Lok Sabha Question No. 3359 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: Pesticide Residue Monitoring
Ministry: CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS
Asked by: Shri Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS

## DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICALS AND PETROCHEMICALS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3359

ANSWERED ON- 08/08/2025

## PESTICIDE RESIDUE MONITORING

## 3359.   SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

Will the Minister of CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS be pleased to state:

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

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS

(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

- (a)  to  (d):    Central  Insecticide  Board  and  Registration  Committee  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  by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

FSSAI has notified 159 primary laboratories as capable for testing of Pesticide Residues in food commodities.  FSSAI also implements 'Strengthening of Food Testing Laboratories' scheme  to  support  laboratories  for  procurement  of  High  End  Equipment  which  helps  in enhancing their capacities for testing pesticide residues in food commodities. Further, FSSAI has also deployed 285 Mobile Food Testing Labs across 35 States/UTs for on-site testing of food products.

'Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level' project has been implemented by DA&FW, which is an ongoing project. The objective of the project is 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. The results of the pesticide residue analysis are shared with all States to facilitate farmer awareness and education to control the use of off-label pesticides.

To prevent  excessive use of pesticides, Government of India promotes the strategy of Integrated  Pest  Management    which  envisages  pest  management  through  traditional  and biological methods.

Further, Central Government and State Governments have also appointed 12511 no. of Insecticide Inspectors to conduct inspections and collect pesticide samples from manufacturer's premises and sale points to check sale of spurious and unregulated pesticides and ensure the availability of quality pesticides across the country.

Furthermore,  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  through  its  Central Integrated  Pest  Management  Centers,  Krishi  Vigyan  Kendras    and  State  Agriculture Departments conducts various training programs to create awareness amongst farmers about use of alternates to chemicals, such as Bio-pesticides, Bio-stimulants, and educate the farmers for need-based & judicious use of chemical pesticides as per doses prescribed on label and leaflet to address the issue of off-label and excessive use of pesticides. In the year 2024-25, a total of 720 training programs were conducted across the country, benefiting 21,271 farmers.

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