Vegetables from other States to be tested

Tests would be done at the farm from where they are sourced

Vegetables procured from other States may soon be tested for pesticide contamination at the farms from where they are sourced.

At a high-level meeting convened here on Tuesday, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy mooted the idea of field tests to ensure the quality of fruits and vegetables imported from other States for sale in Kerala.

He suggested that the results of the tests be made available to the public. Mr. Chandy also proposed a campaign to sensitize farmers and farm workers in the neighbouring States to the hazards of indiscriminate use of pesticides. He said contamination of vegetables and fruits would invite prosecution. The meeting decided to constitute an authority to ensure inter-state coordination for the supply of safe-to-eat vegetables and fruits.

To be headed by the Food Safety Commissioner, the authority would comprise officials of the departments of Health, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Sales Tax, as well as representatives of Kerala Agricultural University and Horticorp. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India would be requested to convene a meeting of health secretaries and food safety commissioners of the southern States to discuss the issue.