Amid the recent controversy over certain spices exported by key producers like MDH and Everest, another row erupted over the weekend as reports emerged that the drug regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had recently permitted higher levels of pesticides by increasing the maximum residue limit (MRL) by up to 10 times. Issuing a rebuttal, the FSSAI termed these reports as "false and malicious", saying India had one of the “most stringent standards” of MRLs in the world. However, it said the residue limit was increased in cases of certain herbs and spices, which are not defined under Indian law.

"Some media reports are claiming that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) allows 10 times more pesticide residue in herbs and spices. Such reports are false and malicious," the food regulator said. The residue limit of pesticides is “fixed differently for different food commodities”, based on their risk assessments, the central regulatory body said.

Here’s what the FSSAI said in its clarification.

Different MRLs for different crops

On the reports of an increase in MRL limit from 0.01 mg per kilogram to 0.1 mg/per kg, the FSSAI said a pesticide is registered on many food commodities with different MRLs based on risk assessment data.

"For instance, the use of Monocrotophos (a type of pesticide) is allowed on many crops with different MRLs such as rice at 0.03 mg/kg, citrus fruits at 0.2 mg/kg, coffee beans at 0.1 mg/kg and cardamom at 0.5 mg/kg, chilli at 0.2 mg/kg."

‘Limit increased only in cases of spices’

The food regulator says it allowed a higher limit of 0.1/kg only in the case of spices for pesticides that are not registered in the country. “This limit was increased to 0.1 mg/kg only in cases of spices and is applicable only for those pesticides, which are not registered in India by the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee (CIB & RC).”

The limit, says FSSAI, was increased after the recommendation of a scientific panel on pesticide residues, which comprises members from CIB & RC and the project coordinator of the monitoring of pesticide residue at the national level MPRNL (Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level) under the Ministry of Agriculture.

Rationale behind increasing MRL for spices

The go-ahead, says the FSSAI, was given after considering the adoption of MRLs in the range of 0.1 mg/kg and above by the Codex Alimantarius Commission (CAC) on Pesticide Residues on spices during 2021-23 in a phased manner for various spices in the world.

The CAC is an international food standards body established jointly by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to protect consumer’s health and ensure fair practices in the food trade. “MRLs fixed by CODEX for spices & culinary herbs range from 0.1 to 80 mg/kg.”

How MRL varies for different crops

The regulator says one pesticide or insecticide is used in more than 10 crops with different MRLs. “For example, flubendiamide is used in brinjal with an MRL of 0.1, whereas for bengal gram the MRL is 1.0 mg/kg, for cabbage 4 mg/kg, for tomato 2 mg/kg and for tea, it is 50 mg/kg.”

Similarly, it says, monocrotophos, an insecticide, is used for food grains with MRLs at 0.03 mg/kg, for citrus fruits at 0.2 mg/kg, for dried chilli, it is 2 mg/kg and for cardamom at 0.5 mg/kg.

“The MRLs fixed by CODEX for myclobutanil, a fungicide, used for chilli is 20 mg/kg whereas the limit set by FSSAI is 2mg/kg. Similarly, for Spiromesifen, a butenolide, is used for chilli, the Codex limit is 5 mg/kg whereas the FSSAI limit is 1 mg/kg.”

The food regulator says MRLs are “dynamic in nature” and are regularly revised based on scientific data. “This practice is aligned with global standards.”

How is MRL fixed?

The scientific panel on pesticide residues of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) examines the data received through CIB & RC and recommends the MRLs after performing risk assessment considering the dietary consumption of the Indian population and health concerns in all age groups.

CIB & RC-registered pesticides

The total number of pesticides registered by CIB & RC in India is more than 295, out of which 139 are registered for use in spices. Codex has adopted a total of 243 pesticides, out of which 75 pesticides are applicable to spices.

Pesticide level

Pesticide levels in spices: FSSAI explains why limit was increased