Lok Sabha Question No. 1380 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Classification of Arecanut by WHO
Ministry: AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Rajmohan Unnithan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH & EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1380

TO BE ANSWERED ON 3 RD  DECEMBER, 2024

## CLASSIFICATION OF ARECANUT BY WHO

## 1380.  SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:

Will the Minister of AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is  a  fact  that  Arecanut  is  an  essential  horticultural  crop  playing  a significant role in religious, social and cultural functions across the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government is aware the challenges faced by Arecanut farmers following the classification  of  Arecanut  as  carcinogenic  by  the  World  Health Organization (WHO) based on several Research and Review Papers, however, on scrutiny of such Papers critically, it is found that in most of the Papers the data were collected  on  chewing  mixtures  such  as  Betel  quid,  Gutka  etc.,  leading  to  wrong conclusions, if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  also  aware  that  on  the  contrary  of  the  above classification  there  are  several  Research  Papers  which  state  that  Arecanut  is  not cancerous but anticancerous, if so, the reaction of the Government on these findings;
- (d) whether  the  Government  will  interfere  in  this  matter  advocating  the  World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) for a review of this classification; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE AND FARMERS WELFARE d`f"k vkSj fdlku dY;k.k jkT; ea=h (SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY)

(a): Yes. Arecanut is used as a masticatory ingredient either with betel leaves or as plain or as scented supari. Traditionally it is being used as 'Thambula' after food. It finds a place in all religious, social and cultural functions in India.  Arecanut has uses in ayurvedic and veterinary medicines because of its several alkaloids.

- (b) & (c): Yes.  The  Government  is  aware  of  the  challenges  faced  by  arecanut farmers. It's noticed that certain research papers on the health effects of arecanut,

which are quoted by WHO, have methodological limitations, leading to inconclusive reports.  Notably,  most  of  these  studies  focused  on  the  health  impacts  of  chewing mixtures,  such  as  betel  quid  and  gutka,  which  contain  arecanut  along  with  other ingredients. These  studies  have  not  indicated  the  sole  &  specific effects of consumption of arecanut isolate on human health.

A  systematic  review  of  the  available  literature  was  conducted  by  multiinstitutional  stakeholders  at  Indian  Council of  Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)-Central Plantation  Crops  Research  Institute,  Kasaragod  in  November  2023.  This  review revealed that the arecoline (alkaloid in arecanut) dosage used in these experiments was  of  a  higher  concentration  compared  to  that  released  during  normal  chewing. Some studies have also revealed that arecoline, in lesser doses, has been found to inhibit tumour growth.

(d) & (e): To address the knowledge gap and provide conclusive evidence on the health  effects  of  arecanut,  the  Ministry  of  Agriculture  and  Farmers  Welfare  has planned  to  undertake  a  study  titled  "Evidence-Based  Research  on  Arecanut  and Human  Health."  This  study  brings  together  around  16  national  and  state-level agencies dealing with medical research, including All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Centre for cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and others, to conduct detailed research on the effect of arecanut on human health.

*****