Following the Delhi High Court’s recent suo motu notice asking food
regulators to check the percentage of pesticide residue in fruits and
vegetables sold in the national capital, an Expert Panel has recommended
the formation of Pesticide Residue Management Cell under the Food
Safety Commissioner Delhi to monitor and check the menace.
The matter is now listed for August 17 when the court will take a decision on the issue.
Sources with the Expert Panel told that for this, the panel has suggested for taking APMC Delhi in the loop as it handles the trade of fruits and vegetables and is equipped with a lab facility.
“APMC has a major role to play as it handles the trade of fruits and vegetables and has responsibility for the quality of agri produce,” the member said.
The panel also suggested intensifying the checking and sampling of collection of fruits and vegetables and expansion of lab facilities in the city to regulate and monitor the level of pesticide residue level on a regular basis.
Experts feel that the court would take a decision on August 17, only by then the formalities of settling up the cell would commence.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Rajendra Sharma, chairman, Delhi APMC, said that he would comply by the decision taken by the court. He told that there was a lab facility near Vidhan Sabha, which did the sample collection on daily basis to see the levels of pesticide residue.
“Let us see what the court has to say. There is already a mechanism in place involving experts,” he said.
Earlier survey
Pesticides are still being used to protect fruit and vegetables from insect attacks three years after a survey by Consumer Voice, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), revealed that the fruit and vegetables being sold in markets in New Delhi are a cocktail of pesticides. The failure of the government and the regulatory authorities to take action against the culprits has become very evident.
Some of these pesticides have, in fact, been banned, because they are capable of doing more harm in the long run than merely affecting the soil. A host of side-effects as loss of weight and appetite, irritability and insomnia, behavioural disorders, and diseases such as skin problems cancer, heart disease, infertility and ailments affecting the liver, kidneys, lungs and the nervous system are on the rise owing to the cultivation and consumption of the pesticide-laden fruit and vegetables.
Ashok Kanchan, advisor (technical), Consumer Voice, confirmed this, stating, “We undertook a study and came up with a report on the presence of pesticides in fruit and vegetables which cause cancers in November 2010. But even after three years, no action has been taken by the government and food regulators against those involved in the malpractice.”
Consumer Voice's report
During its November 2010 survey, Consumer Voice tested 193 samples of 35 vegetables. These did not only fall foul of the Indian standards, but also violated the stringent standards laid down by the European Union (EU). Tests revealed the presence of banned pesticides such as chlordane, endrin and ethyl parathion in bitter gourd and heptachor in spinach.
The NGO also conducted tests on fresh seasonal vegetables to assess the level of pesticides in them. While some samples were purchased from five different localities of New Delhi, others were bought from other metropolitan cities across the country. In the capital, the retail outlets chosen were situated near the five mandis (wholesale markets), to which fresh vegetables are transported in bulk. These fresh vegetables are then transported to various retail outlets across the city for sale.
Box needed (to be taken from the report)
The survey by NGO Consumer Voice on pesticides in vegetables revealed the following:
Objectives of the study on pesticides in vegetables
The matter is now listed for August 17 when the court will take a decision on the issue.
Sources with the Expert Panel told that for this, the panel has suggested for taking APMC Delhi in the loop as it handles the trade of fruits and vegetables and is equipped with a lab facility.
“APMC has a major role to play as it handles the trade of fruits and vegetables and has responsibility for the quality of agri produce,” the member said.
The panel also suggested intensifying the checking and sampling of collection of fruits and vegetables and expansion of lab facilities in the city to regulate and monitor the level of pesticide residue level on a regular basis.
Experts feel that the court would take a decision on August 17, only by then the formalities of settling up the cell would commence.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Rajendra Sharma, chairman, Delhi APMC, said that he would comply by the decision taken by the court. He told that there was a lab facility near Vidhan Sabha, which did the sample collection on daily basis to see the levels of pesticide residue.
“Let us see what the court has to say. There is already a mechanism in place involving experts,” he said.
Earlier survey
Pesticides are still being used to protect fruit and vegetables from insect attacks three years after a survey by Consumer Voice, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), revealed that the fruit and vegetables being sold in markets in New Delhi are a cocktail of pesticides. The failure of the government and the regulatory authorities to take action against the culprits has become very evident.
Some of these pesticides have, in fact, been banned, because they are capable of doing more harm in the long run than merely affecting the soil. A host of side-effects as loss of weight and appetite, irritability and insomnia, behavioural disorders, and diseases such as skin problems cancer, heart disease, infertility and ailments affecting the liver, kidneys, lungs and the nervous system are on the rise owing to the cultivation and consumption of the pesticide-laden fruit and vegetables.
Ashok Kanchan, advisor (technical), Consumer Voice, confirmed this, stating, “We undertook a study and came up with a report on the presence of pesticides in fruit and vegetables which cause cancers in November 2010. But even after three years, no action has been taken by the government and food regulators against those involved in the malpractice.”
Consumer Voice's report
During its November 2010 survey, Consumer Voice tested 193 samples of 35 vegetables. These did not only fall foul of the Indian standards, but also violated the stringent standards laid down by the European Union (EU). Tests revealed the presence of banned pesticides such as chlordane, endrin and ethyl parathion in bitter gourd and heptachor in spinach.
The NGO also conducted tests on fresh seasonal vegetables to assess the level of pesticides in them. While some samples were purchased from five different localities of New Delhi, others were bought from other metropolitan cities across the country. In the capital, the retail outlets chosen were situated near the five mandis (wholesale markets), to which fresh vegetables are transported in bulk. These fresh vegetables are then transported to various retail outlets across the city for sale.
Box needed (to be taken from the report)
The survey by NGO Consumer Voice on pesticides in vegetables revealed the following:
Objectives of the study on pesticides in vegetables
- To examine the total level of pesticides used in the individual vegetable as per the maximum residue limit (MRL) of permitted pesticides;
- To identify the quantity of the level of pesticides used in the fresh vegetables;
- To identify pesticides which are banned due to their potential toxicity impacts;
- To spread awareness among consumers on presence of pesticides in fresh vegetables and their possible toxic effects, and
- To allay fear and anxiety prevailing in consumers’ minds about safety of daily items of consumption
Table of EU violations of vegetables at glance (to be taken from the report)
Comparison of Indian and EU maximum residue limit (MRL) of some pesticides in vegetables
Table of violations as per EU standards of pesticides found in the tested vegetables
Legal provisions
Section 21 of the Food Safety and Standard Act (FSSA), 2006 states that:
No article of food shall contain insecticide or pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues, antibiotic residues, solvent residues, pharmacological active substances and micro-biological counts in excess of such tolerance limits as may be specified by the regulations, and
No insecticide shall be used directly on articles of food, except fumigants registered and approved under the Insecticides Act, 1968.
Imprisonment and fine
Section 50 of the Food Safety and Standard Act-2006 states that any person who sells to the purchaser's prejudice any food which is not in compliance with the provisions of this Act, or the regulations made thereunder, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding Rs 5 lakh, and
Whoever uses an insecticide in contravention of any provisions of the Insecticides Act, 1968, or any rule made thereunder, shall be punishable with upto six months imprisonment and a fine ranging between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000
Reasons for the pesticide menace
- Indiscriminate use of chemical pesticide;
- Lack of awareness on the part of farmers with regards to judicious use of chemical pesticides;
- Non-observance of prescribed waiting periods, incorrect application techniques, more use of recommended dosages;
- Use of sub-standard pesticides, and
- Wrong advice to farmers by pesticides dealers
In tropical countries like India, the possibility of damage is high due to the hot and humid weather. In order to examine and assess the level of various pesticides present in fruit, Consumer Voice conducted tests for pesticides in fresh seasonal fruit.
Box needed (to be taken from the report)
Objectives of the study on pesticides in fruit
- Identify and quantity of the level of pesticides used in fresh fruit;
- Examine the total level of pesticides used in the individual fruits as per maximum residual limit (MRL) of permitted pesticides;
- Identify pesticides which are banned due to their potential toxicity impacts, and
- Spread awareness among the consumers and society on presence of pesticides in fresh fruits and possible toxic effects
Box on comparison of Indian and Codex maximum residue limit (MRL) of some pesticides in fruits
Comparison of Indian and European Union (MRL) of some pesticides in fruit
Remedies to minimise pesticides impact on human health
- Education to farmers about the judicious use of chemical pesticides and adopting good agricultural practices and ill-effects of indiscriminate use of chemical pesticides
- Awareness about the harmful effects of chemical pesticides, especially to farmers as they and their families would be exposed to it first
- Monitoring and re-evaluation of the pesticide residue limit in the food chain by the ministry of health and family welfare
- Reviewing and reduction of the pesticide residue limits by the government
- Increasing the punishment besides fines, incorporating stringent provisions of punishment to all offenders in the Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006, including manufacturers, importers, dealers, retailers and farmers, and
- Use of bio-pesticides to be encouraged. To encourage the use of bio-pesticides, farmers should be given assistance/subsidies by the government.
Bhopal gas tragedy
In 1984, the Bhopal gas tragedy occurred when the Union Carbide plant released 40 tonne of methyl isocyanate gas, a chemical intermediate in the synthesis of some pesticides. The disaster immediately killed nearly 3,000 people and ultimately caused at least 15,000 deaths.
Kerala's endosulfan disaster
The chemical endosulfan came into spotlight in Kasargod, Kerala. It was sprayed aerially and the local populations of many villages were exposed to it. What followed was very shocking. It led to physical and mental defects in poor farmers and their families.
Studies have shown endosulfan to accumulate in mother's breast milk, and it has been linked to birth defects such as cleft lip, the likes of which are still being observed at Kasaragod. Endosulfan is mainly used in apples, grapes, pears, peaches and other fruit.
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