1 Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level Background: It is an undisputed fact that the area of the agriculture land on the planet will decrease and the demand for food and fibre for the ever-increasing population will keep on increasing. Protection of crop losses is as important as producing food and fibre, and crop protection chemicals have proved their worth in minimizing crop losses during green revolution and are continuing to do so. Lately, pesticide residues in food commodities and their entry into the food-chain has become a major cause of concern all-over the world. Food safety has become crucial for all involved in the value chain and consumers have to be assured that they are not exposed to an unacceptable level of pesticide residues. After the establishment of the world trade order (WTO) and other GATT, SPS and IPR challenges in this millennium, presence of the residues above the permissible level is also a major bottleneck in the international trade of food commodities. In India, the food safety is based on the guiding principle of risk analysis of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). In order to exploit full potential of pesticides in agriculture and public health programmes without adversely affecting the environment, it is essential to study the facts about pesticide behavior and their persistence / dissipation under tropical Indian conditions. There is also a need to know the status of pesticide residues to ensure the safety to the consumer and to overcome the trade barriers at international level. The Government of India regulates the pesticide residues detected in various food items through Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (now through Food Safety and Standards Act, 2005). Various organizations in India such as institutions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR); State Agricultural Universities; Central Insecticides Laboratory (CIL); Indian Institute of Grain Storage; institutions under Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), and other research groups have been engaged in monitoring of pesticide residues in food commodities and environmental samples in their individual capacity primarily for academic 346148/2018/PP-| 267
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Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level
Background:
It is an undisputed fact that the area of the agriculture land on the planet will decrease
and the demand for food and fibre for the ever-increasing population will keep on
increasing. Protection of crop losses is as important as producing food and fibre, and
crop protection chemicals have proved their worth in minimizing crop losses during
green revolution and are continuing to do so. Lately, pesticide residues in food
commodities and their entry into the food-chain has become a major cause of concern
all-over the world. Food safety has become crucial for all involved in the value chain
and consumers have to be assured that they are not exposed to an unacceptable level
of pesticide residues. After the establishment of the world trade order (WTO) and other
GATT, SPS and IPR challenges in this millennium, presence of the residues above
the permissible level is also a major bottleneck in the international trade of food
commodities.
In India, the food safety is based on the guiding principle of risk analysis of the Codex
Alimentarius Commission (CAC). In order to exploit full potential of pesticides in
agriculture and public health programmes without adversely affecting the environment,
it is essential to study the facts about pesticide behavior and their persistence /
dissipation under tropical Indian conditions. There is also a need to know the status of
pesticide residues to ensure the safety to the consumer and to overcome the trade
barriers at international level.
The Government of India regulates the pesticide residues detected in various food
items through Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (now through Food Safety and
Standards Act, 2005). Various organizations in India such as institutions under the
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR); State Agricultural Universities; Central
Insecticides Laboratory (CIL); Indian Institute of Grain Storage; institutions under
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR); Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research (CSIR) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), and other research
groups have been engaged in monitoring of pesticide residues in food commodities
and environmental samples in their individual capacity primarily for academic
346148/2018/PP-|267
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purposes. Such studies were often overlapping and differed from one another in their
results. Due to increasing public awareness and legalities involved in pesticide
residues in food commodities, there was a need to harmonize the monitoring of
pesticide residues in the country.
DAC&FW sponsored central sector scheme, “Monitoring of Pesticide Residues
at National Level” (MPRNL):
The Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture
& Farmers Welfare had started a central sector scheme, “Monitoring of Pesticide
Residues at National Level” (MPRNL) in food commodities and environmental
samples during 2005-06 with the participation of various laboratories representing
Ministry of Agriculture, Indian Council of Agriculture Research, Ministry of Health and
Family Welfare, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research, Ministry of Chemical and Fertilizer, Ministry of Commerce and State
Agricultural Universities across the country. The scheme was launched by Shri Ashish
Bahuguna, IAS, Joint Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Cooperation and Farmer’s
Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Government of India during 14th
annual workshop of ICAR- All India Network Project on Pesticide Residues organized
at Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal
Pradesh from 14-15 June, 2005.
Objectives:
To identify crops and regions having preponderance of pesticide residues in
order to focus extension efforts for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Good
Agriculture Practices (GAP)
To strengthen infrastructure at Quarantine stations to prevent entry of food and
food commodities which have pesticide residues above maximum residue limit
(MRL)
Testing / Certification of pesticide residue in export / import consignments
To test pesticide residues and other contaminants in food commodities and
environmental samples like soil and water.
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Participating laboratories:
The Project Coordinating Cell, AINP on Pesticide Residues, IARI, New Delhi of ICAR
is the nodal Centre. These participating centres have been accredited by National
Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration of Laboratories (NABL) in the field of
chemical testing as per ISO/IEC 17025:2005 to ensure the generation of authentic
data. The participating laboratories of the scheme are listed below:
1. Project Coordinating Cell, All India Network Project on Pesticide Residues, LBS
Building, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (Delhi)
2. Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (Punjab)