FSSAI Clarifies Reports Of It Allowing 10 Times More Pesticides Use In Spices And Herbs (image@Pixabay)

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a clarification on the news report on the Authority allowing the quantity of pesticides in herbs and spices. Earlier reports emerged that FSSAI has allowed to increase the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) to 10 times more. The MRL was said to be increased by 0.01 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) to 0.1 mg/kg.

The clarification came as several media houses claimed that FSSAI has increased the quantity of pesticides. In a press release, the Food Authority said that pesticides are regulated by the Ministry of Agriculture through the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee constituted under the Insecticide Act, 1968.

The food authority clarified that India follows the most strict standards of MRL in the world and the residue levels of pesticides are fixed differently based on different food commodities and on the pesticides risk assessments. It is further clarified that out of the total 295 registered pesticides, 139 are registered for use in spices. The pesticides are registered by CIB and RC (Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee). It is further added that Codex (Codex Alimentarius Commission – International food standard body) has adopted total of 243 pesticides, of which 75 are applicable for spices.

After the reports of FSSAI increasing the quantity of pesticides, Economic Times quoted Dileep Kumar, CEO of Pesticide Action Network, as saying “this relaxation means Indian spices will face more rejections when exported to some large markets”.

“If you [FSSAI] are making such a huge upward revision, then you have to substantiate it by releasing the data based on which the decision was made”, said Amit Khurana, Centre for Science and Environment’s director of sustainable food development, as quoted by Down To Earth. He also added that the increase in quantity can severely harm the health of those consuming it.

Hong Kong, Singapore, and Maldives had banned Indian spices brands like MDH and Everest”s spices over the claim of using cancer-causing pesticides. The countries banned the brands citing the presence of carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide in several of their spice mixes.