No pesticide limits prescribed for veggies, fruits sold in State

Enforcement of food safety during Onam to go toothless

The absence of prescribed limits on the use of chemical pesticides for various crops could hinder the government move to step up enforcement of food safety during the Onam festival season, experts feel.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has not prescribed the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) of many of the pesticides used on vegetables and fruits.

This, according to official sources, poses legal hurdles in cracking down on the indiscriminate use of pesticides by domestic farmers and curbing the import of pesticide-contaminated items from other States.

MRL is the legally permitted level of pesticide residue in food items. The MRL value is fixed on the basis of a rigorous evaluation. It acts as an indicator of the correct use of pesticides and ensures compliance with legal requirements for food safety.

“It is a matter of concern that the majority of pesticides that have been detected in vegetables, fruits, spices and condiments do not have MRL values,” says a senior scientist associated with pesticide safety.

“This makes a mockery of the periodic monitoring of food items for pesticide residue,” he said.

The State government conducts regular surveillance sample testing of food items and the reports are published on the official website. But in the absence of MRL values, officials are hamstrung in taking legal action.

“For example, Profenophos is a typical highly neurotoxic insecticide registered for use only in cotton. But it has been detected in chilli, chilli powder, curry leaf, coriander leaf, mint leaf, cardamom, cumin seed, fennel seed, and curry powders. The FSSAI has not fixed the MRL for this insecticide in any of these commodities, because its use is not approved in any of these crops,” says an official.

Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), P. Rajendran said the multiplicity of pesticides used for various crops posed a problem in regulation. “Fixing the MRL value for a pesticide used on a crop is a complex, time- consuming process, often taking years. To complicate matters further, pesticide manufacturers come up with new products every now and then, by changing the formulation.”

Under a special food safety drive for the forthcoming Onam festival season, the Pesticide Residue Research and Analytical Laboratory under KAU is screening samples of vegetables and fruits collected from markets across the State.

Legal hurdles

MRL is the legally permitted level of pesticide residue in food items

Officials hamstrung in taking legal action

FDA seizes adulterated food items

PANAJI: Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials detained a consignment of defective and adulterated banana and tapioca chips on Saturday at Konkan railway station, Margao. The consignment booked by a Kerala-based firm AB, Chips Chalad Kannur for Goa market was brought via Konkan railway.

A team of FDA officials led by food safety officer Rajiv Korde, found the products misbranded and did not meet the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. They were also defective in labeling requirements and suspected to be adulterated with artificial colour.

The consignment estimated to cost 1.3 lakh was seized from the possession of one Sivagurunath. A sample has been sent for analysis to the FDA lab at Bambolim. The claimant of this consignment is M/s Universal Alliance Group, Quepem.

Citizen rights awareness in Kohima

The team from Kohima Law College with others.

Kohima, August 29 (MExN): A team of students from Kohima Law College led by Professor-in-Charge Kezhokhoto Savi conducted citizen rights awareness at Konyak Baptist Church, Kohima on August 27. The team, which consisted of Tekalong Jamir, Paiwang Konyak, Kelengu-u Rutsa, Peter Rana, Aliba Ozukum, P. Mhonbeni Ezung, and Ayeho Sumi, covered various topics such as National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013, RTI, Lokayukta, Consumer Awareness, Food Safety & Standard Act 2006, Child Protection, and Human Rights.

On Food Safety & Standard Act (FSSA) 2006, the team presented that over the years the need for change and modification of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 & Rules 1955 was felt and thus the Food Safety and standard Act 2006 was made for laying down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of food, to ensure safe and wholesome food for human consumption. “This is an Act to ensure prevention of fraudulent, deceptive or unfair trade practices which may harm the ‘Consumer’ and unsafe, contaminated or sub-standard food.” In implementing the Act, the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) was constituted on September 5, 2008.

The FSSA was implemented in Nagaland in 2012 and accordingly the State government has prohibited the preparation, sale, exposure for sale of unsafe food items, including imported foods in the state.

The team further stressed that it is every citizen’s right and duty as a consumer to question the distributor of food as every consumer is buying for consumption. “Food safety means an assurance that the food is acceptable for human consumption according to its intended and standard means the relation to any article of food as in the standard notified by the Food Authority,” they stated.

For further query, the release asked consumers to call Nagaland State Consumer Helpline Toll Free No. 1800-345-3701 or visit the office situated at Old Nagaland State Legislative Assembly building, Kohima during office hour.