Kerala’s clamp down on pesticide-laced produce affects State suppliers

The Kerala government’s stringent measures to stop vegetables and fruits laced with pesticides from entering the State from July 15 has sent transporters and wholesale dealers in Mangaluru scurrying to the food safety offices seeking licences.

Around 20 lorry loads of vegetables and fruits are sent from the Central Market to Kasaragod and other neighbouring places in Kerala daily.

Over the last two weeks, four transporters have approached Senior Food Safety Officer H.P. Raju, who is also discharging the duties of the Food Safety Officer, for issuance of licence for transport of food articles, including vegetables. “They brought the circular issued by the Kerala government making it mandatory for transporters to have a licence for transport of food articles. The licences have been issued to them,” Mr. Raju said. Licences have been issued for three wholesale vegetable and fruit dealers operating from the Central Market in the city, he added.

At the check-post, designated Food Safety Officers of Kerala will be checking the documents and also samples of fruits and vegetables. If the produce has signs of pesticide, the consignment will be sent back.

“There has not been any problem in sending vegetables and fruits on Wednesday. The usual load has reached destinations via Talapady border on National Highway 66,” said A. Suresh, a wholesale vegetable dealer, in the Central Market. Vehicles carrying fruits and vegetables leave for Kasaragod and other neighbouring parts between 6.30 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. every day.

Questioning the rationale of the Kerala government, Syed Masood, a banana dealer, said while pesticide check was being done for vegetables and fruits sent from other States, the same has not been applied to the produce sent from Kerala. “I am getting ‘Naendra’ bananas from Kerala. There is no pesticide check for them,” he said.

State vegetable dealers run for licences to transport pesticide-free produce to Kerala.

Dealers have brought the circular issued by the Kerala government making it mandatory for transporters to have a licence for transport of food articles, says H.P. Raju, safety food officer.