The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has exercised its powers under the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) regulations, 2011, to facilitate testing of food products to ensure their safety. A notification dated November 29, 2023 was published to this effect.
1. Ban on 20 Pesticides:
It may be recalled that the FSSAI, on March 19, 2018, published the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) First Amendment Regulations, 2018. This amendment unequivocally bans the use of 20 pesticides, aligning with the Insecticides Act, 1968. The list of prohibited pesticides is attached at Annexure-1. It emphasises a stringent approach to eliminating potential hazards from food products.
2. Directives for Comprehensive Testing:
Following thorough deliberations with relevant stakeholders, FSSAI issues a directive to all notified laboratories. These laboratories are now mandated to test for the 20 banned pesticides. This testing will be in addition to all pesticides specified for Tea as per the FSS (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) regulations, 2011.
This move by FSSAI reinforces the commitment to protecting public health by actively monitoring and regulating the use of pesticides and contaminants in the food supply chain. These regulatory measures serve to bolster confidence in the nation’s food safety ecosystem.
