Lok Sabha Question No. 3921 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-25
Subject: Pesticide Residues Testing
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Tejasvi Surya

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3921

TO BE ANSWERED ON 25 TH  MARCH, 2025

## PESTICIDE RESIDUES TESTING

3921.  SHRI TEJASVI SURYA:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण मंũी be pleased to state:-

- (a)  the  measures  taken  to  expand  national  surveillance  programmes  and  enhance laboratory capacities for pesticide residue testing across India;
- (b)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  plan  to  tackle  the  issue  of  off-label  and excessive pesticide use by farmers;
- (c) the steps being taken to curb the sale and distribution of spurious and unregulated pesticides in the market;
- (d) whether the Government plan to introduce incentives or subsidies for farmers adopting sustainable alternatives like  bio-pesticides and  Integrated Pest  Management (IPM); and
- (e)  if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE क ृ िष एवं िकसान कʞाण राǛ मंũी (SHRI RAMNATH THAKUR)

(a) to (e): Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee (RC) under Department  of  Agriculture  &  Farmers  Welfare  (DA&FW)  registers  pesticides  under  the provisions  of  the  Insecticide  Act,  1968  for  its  manufacture  and  use  in  the  country  after ensuring the  efficacy  and safety  to  prevent  risk to  human  beings  or  animals  and issues certificate  of  registration  only  after  fixation  of  Maximum  Residue  Limit  (MRLs)  by  Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

DA&FW  is  also  implementing  a  project  "Monitoring  of  Pesticide  Residues  at National Level (MPRNL)" to determine the levels of pesticide residues in food commodities such as vegetables, fruits, spices, cereals, pulses, herbs, tea and water etc. by collecting samples from different parts of the country by 35 participating laboratories for the possible presence  of  pesticide  residues  and  shares  their  report  with  all  States  for  educating  the farmers for use of approved pesticides on the crop as per dose prescribed on label and leaflet to control the use of off-label pesticides.

FSSAI  has  notified  159  primary  laboratories  capable  for  testing  of  Pesticide Residues in food commodities and implements 'Strengthening of Food Testing Laboratories'  (SoFTeL)  scheme  to  support  laboratories  for  procurement  of  High  End

Equipment which helps in testing pesticide residues in food commodities. FSSAI has also deployed 285 Mobile Food Testing Labs across 35 States/UTs for on-site testing of food products. Central  Government  and  State  Governments  have  also  appointed  12523  no.  of Insecticide Inspectors to conduct inspections and collect pesticide samples from manufacturer's premises and  sale  points  to  check  the  sale  of  spurious  and  unregulated pesticides, and ensure the availability of quality pesticides across the country. Management  Centers (CIPMCs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) and State Agriculture Departments, undertakes pesticides, and educate farmers for need-based & judicious use of chemical pesticides as

Further, DA&FW,  through  its Central Integrated Pest various  training  programs  to  promote  Integrated  Pest  Management  (IPM),  use  of  bioper doses prescribed on label and leaflet as last resort only.

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