Thiruvananthapuram: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued an order asking Tamil Nadu not to use pesticides excessively on vegetables, recognising Kerala’s battle against poisonous vegetables coming from Tamil Nadu.
Following a report from the food safety commissioner of Kerala, the authority conducted its own tests and found out that vegetables from Tamil Nadu contained pesticides above permissible limits, after which it took the action.
The fact that even in tests conducted in Tamil Nadu it was found that pesticides were used excessively on vegetables was a setback to the state, which until now was not willing to accept Kerala’s stand.
An inspection by food safety officials of Kerala in farms in Tamil Nadu had found out that pesticides were used in a big way on vegetables at different stages of farming and even after harvesting them.
Food safety commissioner T.V. Anupama had submitted to the government a report prepared by a committee headed by joint food safety commissioner K. Anil Kumar along with evidence. Though Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar wrote a letter to Tamil Nadu along with this report, the neighbouring state did not act on it.
Following this, the food safety commissioner approached the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India urging it to intervene in the matter. Former minister Binoy Viswam too wrote a letter to the authority with the same demand.
The authority took a stand that it cannot act only on the basis of a report from Kerala, and it assigned Dr K.K. Sharma to conduct a detailed inquiry. Then samples of vegetables were collected from Tamil Nadu and they were scientifically tested at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in Coimbatore and Kerala Agricultural University in Vellayani, which confirmed excessive use of pesticides.
Following this, as per sections 20 and 21 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, the authority issued the order to take preventive measures to reduce the use of pesticides in vegetables and fruits.
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