Government is implementing a Central Sector Scheme “Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level” under which samples of various food commodities including rice, wheat, vegetables, fruits and water are analyzed for the presence of pesticide residues. During the period April, 2010 to March, 2011, 15321 samples of food commodities were analyzed, of which 188 samples (1.23%) had pesticide residues above Maximum Residue Limit prescribed under Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, 1954.
The pesticide residue data generated under the scheme are shared with State Governments and concerned Ministries/Organizations to initiate the corrective action for judicious and proper use of pesticides on crops with an Integrated Pest Management approach and to generate awareness amongst farmers.
The implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 rests with States/Union Territory governments whose functionaries draw random samples of food articles regularly and take penal action in cases where the samples are found not conforming to the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
The pesticide residue data generated under the scheme are shared with State Governments and concerned Ministries/Organizations to initiate the corrective action for judicious and proper use of pesticides on crops with an Integrated Pest Management approach and to generate awareness amongst farmers.
The implementation of Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 rests with States/Union Territory governments whose functionaries draw random samples of food articles regularly and take penal action in cases where the samples are found not conforming to the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
This information was given by Shri Harish Rawat, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing Industries in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.
