The absence of Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for pesticides used on various crops poses a major hurdle for the Kerala government in addressing the pesticide safety of vegetables imported from other States.
The FSSAI has not prescribed MRL of various pesticides for chilly, curry leaf, amaranthus, coriander leaf, mint, and capsicum, items for which Kerala largely depends on neighbouring States. This would pose legal hurdles in preventing the import of pesticide-contaminated vegetables, according to experts.
MRL is the maximum amount of pesticide residue legally permitted on food. The MRL value is fixed on the basis of a rigorous evaluation of each pesticide legally authorised. It acts as an indicator of the correct use of pesticides, and ensures compliance with legal requirements for low residues on unprocessed food.
Of the eight pesticides detected in samples of chilly, only three, Chlorpyrifos, Phosalone, and Ethion have the MRL prescribed by the FSSAI. However, pesticide residue analysis of samples have revealed the presence of Cypermethrin, Fenvalerate, and Cyhalothrin, as well as Profenofos and Triazophos, two pesticides banned in Kerala since 2011. Cypermethrin and Fenvalerate are neurotoxic, can trigger respiratory diseases, skin disorders, affect the immune system, and are possible human carcinogens.
For Cypermethrin, the FSSAI has prescribed MRL only for cabbage, brinjal, and bhindi while Fenvalerate has prescribed MRL only for cauliflower, brinjal, and okra. For Profenofos, the FSSAI has not fixed MRL for any vegetable.
The absence of MRL for pesticides used on various vegetables is a stumbling block to efforts to enforce the food safety rules, says P. Rajendran, Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural University. The Pesticide Residue Research and Analytical Laboratory under the KAU uses European Union standards for analysis in cases where the MRL has not been prescribed by the FSSAI. “But this is only an indicator and does not permit legal intervention to check the import of pesticide-ridden vegetables,” says a scientist.
To understand the health hazard caused by pesticide residue, it is essential to have MRL standards fixed for various pesticide-commodity combinations.
EU has a comprehensive database of pesticide-commodity combinations, covering even the dietary habits of immigrant communities. It has MRL standards for various pesticides used on red amaranthus, largely used by the immigrant Malayali community.
The FSSAI has initiated the process for fixing MRL of 18 pesticides used on various crops. But this is a complex time-consuming process, often taking up to two years, according to experts.
