Consignments database to be prepared

In an effort to check the entry of vegetables with high pesticide levels into the State, the Food Safety Department will set up a database of vegetable consignments – vegetable varieties, specific markets from where these are sourced, farmlands from where each is procured – being brought into the State, Commissioner of Food Safety T.V. Anupama said here on Tuesday.

At a meeting convened by Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar , Ms. Anupama said that checking the sale of pesticide-ridden vegetables was not as easy as banning a packed product and that the process was going to take time.

More checks

Checks at the check-posts would be intensified so that each vehicle bringing in consignments would have to give clear information as to the source of vegetables and the market for which it was intended.

“Pesticide testing is a time-consuming process and as this is a perishable product, the consignment cannot be held back at the check-post,” she said. “If the vegetable samples are found to be containing high levels of pesticides, the licence/ registration of the vehicle could be suspended and, at least, the Food Safety officials will have a record of the source and location from where the produce was brought in,” she said. Officials will examine the content of various brands of ‘energy drinks.’