Lok Sabha Question No. 3778 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-22
Subject: Use of Raw Material in FPI
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: RAMESH POKHRIYAL NISHANK

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3778

ANSWERED ON 22 ND  DECEMBER, 2015

## USE OF RAW MATERIAL IN FPI

## 3778.  DR. RAMESH POKHRIYAL "NISHANK":

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether the Government has taken cognizance of the fact that the raw materials supplied to the  food  processing  industries  contain  residues  of  toxins  such  as  insecticides,  pesticides, fungicides, weedicides etc. and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has any rules/regulations to prescribe minimum standards for raw materials used in the food processing industries and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c)  whether there is any technique/process available in the food processing industry to remove toxins present in raw materials being used in the processing of food products and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SADHAVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a):    Yes  Madam.  Department  of  Agriculture,  Cooperation  and  Farmers  Welfare  (DACFW), Ministry of Agriculture have informed that a Central Sector Scheme was started on 'Monitoring of  Pesticide  Residues  at  National  level'  in  food  commodities  and  environmental  samples  like water  during  2005-06  with  the  participation  of  25  Laboratories  representing  Ministry  of Agriculture,  Indian  Council  of  Agriculture  Research,  Ministry  of  Health  and  Family  Welfare, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Chemical  and  Fertilizer,  Ministry  of  Commerce  and  State  Agricultural  Universities  across  the country.

Participating  laboratories  are  collecting  food  commodities  such  as  vegetables,  fruits, cereals,  pulses,  spices,  curry  leaves,  red  chilli  powder,  milk,  egg,  fish/marine,  meat,  tea  from various Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) markets, local markets, farm gate, organic  outlets  and  Public  Distribution  Systems  (PDS)  and  irrigated  water  from  intensive agricultural  fields  from  various  parts of  the  country  and  analyzed  for the  possible  presence  of pesticide residues. During the year 2014-15, a total of 20,618 samples have been collected and analysed. The residues above MRL were detected in 543 samples and no banned pesticides were detected in any sample.

(b)&(c):    The  Food Safety and Standards Act was enacted by Parliament in 2006.   The Act came into force from 2008 onwards. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was constituted in the year 2008 under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The mandate of FSSAI  is  to  lay  down  science  based  standards  for  articles  of  foods  and  to  regulate  their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food  for  consumers.  FSSAI  is  also  required  to  coordinate  with  State  Governments  in  matters relating to enforcement.

The maximum residue limit of toxins and pesticides are also fixed by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI).

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