FSSAI holds first national stakeholder consultation on pesticide residues

New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav inaugurated the National Stakeholder Consultation on Challenges in Monitoring Pesticide Residues in Food Commodities organized by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

Emphasizing the need for a nationwide strategy for stricter monitoring of pesticide residues in food, Jadhav urged all stakeholders to work collectively in promoting best practices for food safety and sustainability.

This stakeholder consultation on pesticides is first in the series of such consultations with stakeholders on emerging issues like sustainable packaging, nutraceuticals, antimicrobial resistance etc. Addressing stakeholders, the Union Minister appreciated the initiative of FSSAI and stressed on the need to review existing practices in pesticide monitoring and to create a robust mechanism to address the challenges of pesticide residue. He also emphasized the importance of agriculture in sustaining millions of livelihoods and ensuring food security. Shri Jadhav added that today’s farmers are more adaptive towards use of new technology so it is easier to educate them on use of pesticides and about Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). He also advocated for collaborative efforts from all the stakeholders to devise a concrete action plan to minimize pesticide residues in food commodities.

Shri Jadhav also stated that the consultation would prove instrumental in identification of gaps, which can then be focused and deliberated upon to develop a robust mechanism of food safety and make food commodities free of pesticide residue. He also commended FSSAI’s efforts in strengthening food safety frameworks.

Union Health Secretary, Punya Salila Srivastava, shared her valuable insights on the issue, emphasizing that the indiscriminate use of pesticides poses significant risks to public health. She stressed the importance of strengthening monitoring systems and raising public awareness about pesticide use, ensuring that every person has access to safe food. She advocated for the development of actionable strategies aimed at protecting public health, underscoring that the primary goal of this consultation is to ensure that everyone can enjoy safe and healthy food.

Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare delivered a special address wherein he highlighted the issue of spurious pesticide in the market and also advocated judicious use of pesticides to protect consumer health.

Subrata Gupta, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries emphasized the need for all stakeholders in the food value chain to collaborate to address challenges related to pesticides. “Pesticides causes not only bad health but also bad commerce.”

G Kamala Vardhana Rao, CEO, FSSAI in his concluding remarks reiterated the FSSAI’s commitment to ensuring food safety through stringent monitoring and regulatory measures. He concluded that “By ensuring the safety of food, we protect not only public health but also our environment, the livelihoods of our farmers, and the future of international trade. The outcomes of this consultation will form the foundation for more effective policies and regulations that reflect the complexities of today’s agricultural and food safety landscape” He added that the insights and recommendations from this consultation will contribute to the development of more robust policies and action plans for improving pesticide residue monitoring and ensuring food safety across India.

The National Stakeholder Consultation on Pesticide Residues marks a crucial step in strengthening food safety by addressing challenges in monitoring pesticide use and ensuring regulatory compliance. Recognizing the need for a coordinated approach, FSSAI convened this consultation to enhance surveillance, enforce safety standards, and mitigate health risks associated with chemical residues in food. By bringing together key stakeholders, the consultation fosters collaboration on best practices, emerging risks, and innovative solutions like bio-pesticides and precision application. As India aligns with global safety standards, this discussion is pivotal in safeguarding public health and promoting sustainable agriculture.

The event brought together key stakeholders, including government officials, scientific experts, regulatory bodies, National Institutes, representatives from Industry Association, farmer organizations, consumer associations & pesticide manufacturer associations to deliberate on strategies and exchange valuable insights, which will help to devise concrete action plans.

The consultation featured a technical session followed by a panel discussion on “Global Regulatory Frameworks and National-Level Challenges in Monitoring Pesticide Residues in Food Commodities. The panel featured experts from the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR), FAO, ICAR, CIB&RC, and FSSAI’s Scientific Panel on Pesticide Residues.

Key discussions focused on emphasizing the importance of expanding national surveillance programs, enhancing laboratory capacities, discussions on aligning India’s Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) with international standards like Codex Alimentarius while considering India’s unique agricultural and environmental conditions.

The post-lunch session featured an open forum stakeholder interaction involving stakeholders from agriculture, food processing, and consumer organizations to voice their concerns and recommendations. Key issues raised during the consultation included the challenges in implementing effective pesticide residue monitoring, the need for harmonizing India’s Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) with international standards, and concerns over off-label and excessive pesticide use. There was also a strong emphasis on enhancing farmer education and awareness, introducing digital traceability solutions, and promoting sustainable alternatives such as bio-pesticides and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to minimize health risks and trade barrier.