Lok Sabha Question No. 3589 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-10
Subject: Adverse effects of restricted pesticides
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Dileshwar Kamait, Ramapati Ram Tripathi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3589 TO BE ANSWERED ON  10 TH  AUGUST 2021

## ADVERSE EFFECTS OF RESTRICTED PESTICIDES

## †3589. SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT: DR. RAMAPATI RAM TRIPATHI:

Will the Minister of  AGRICULTURE  AND  FARMERS  WELFARE कृ ष और कसान कयाण मंी be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware of certain restricted/banned pesticides used for production  of  other  crops  including  fruits,  vegetables,  foodgrains,  pulses  etc.  are being  used  for  artificial  ripening  of  fruits  which  causes  adverse  effect  on  human health, soil and livestock;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reaction of the Government thereto;

- (c) whether the Government has conducted any investigation regarding complaints of presence of harmful chemicals in food items or has conducted any study to identify the  level  of  harmful  chemicals/pesticides  residues  in  fruits,  vegetables,  crops  and other food items and if so, the outcome thereof; and
- (d)  the  steps  taken/proposed to  be taken by the Government to restrict/prevent the use  of  harmful  materials/chemicals/pesticides  in  the  country  particularly  in  food items?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE & FARMERS WELFARE

## कृ ष और कसान कयाण मंी (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

(a) and (b):  The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has informed that artificial ripening of fruits using Carbide gas is prohibited under Food Safety and Standards  (Prohibition  and  Restriction  on  Sales)  Regulations,  2011.  However, ripening of fruits is allowed by using Ethylene gas under Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Second Regulations, 2016. In order to ensure compliance to the prescribed standards and ensure availability of safe food products to the consumers, food safety officials of States / UTs regularly draw food samples from  all  sources  viz.  manufacturers,  wholesalers,  Mandis  and  retailers.  In  cases where samples are found to be non-conforming to the provisions of Food Safety and

Standards  Act,  2006  and  rules  and  regulations  made  thereunder,  penal  action  is taken against the concerned persons under those provisions.  The FSSAI has not reported instances of use of banned pesticides / chemicals for ripening of fruits.

(c) The FSSAI has further informed that it has fixed the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for various pesticides, antibiotics, etc in food commodities under Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011, which are reviewed  from  time  to  time.  Further,  under  a  central  sector  scheme,  namely, 'Monitoring  of  Pesticide Residues  at  National  Level', samples of  vegetables, fruits and  other  crops  are  collected  from  the  retail  outlets,  markets,  farm  gate  etc.  and analyzed for pesticide residues.  From the analysis of a total of 1,72,437 samples of various food  commodities  during  April,  2014  to  March,  2021,  residues  were  found exceeding above MRLs in 4,680 (2.7 %) samples. Reports of such instances were shared with concerned State Governments to take appropriate legal and corrective actions as per the provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968.

(d) The FSSAI has informed that washing and processing of vegetables and fruits help  in  removal  of  residues  of  pesticides  /  insecticides  etc  to  a  large  extent. Consumers are educated though various communication platforms, print and outdoor media campaigns, social media, education booklets, stalls at fairs / events and mass awareness campaigns, etc about the importance  of washing fruits and vegetables before consumption to avoid harmful effects of pesticides.

Further,  to  check  overuse  of  pesticides  in  food  crops,  Government  promotes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach as an ecologically desirable alternative. Judicious use of chemical pesticides is recommended as a measure of last resort. The States' agriculture extension departments and 35 Central Integrated Pest  Management  Centres  (CIPMCs)  across  the  country  train  farmers,  extension functionaries etc.  The training activities  include  programmes  on  non-chemical  pest management strategies and use of bio-pesticides to farmers through Farmers' Field Schools (FFSs), to master trainers, extension workers and short duration courses for pesticides dealers/NGOs/Graduates/Post-graduates/Pvt. Entrepreneurs and progressive farmers.

Pesticides  are  toxic  substances  but  they  do  not  pose  any  adverse  effect  on  the environment  if  they  are  used  as  per  the  label  and  leaflet  approved  by  the Registration Committee. Registered pesticides are periodically reviewed from time to time with regard to their safety and efficacy in consultation with experts on receipt of new studies / reports / references / information. So far, Government has banned or phased  out  46  pesticides  and  4  pesticide  formulations  for  import,  manufacture  or sale in the country. In addition,  5 banned pesticides are allowed to be manufactured for export only, 8  pesticide registrations have been withdrawn and 9 pesticides have been placed under restricted use.

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