- Recent food safety testing revealed that nearly half of the tea samples examined across the country over the past two years did not meet prescribed food safety standards, mainly due to pesticide residue levels.
- To address this issue, the government has decided to revise the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for the pesticides Imidacloprid and Acetamiprid, which account for a significant share of non-compliant tea samples.
- Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) are the highest legally permitted levels of pesticide residues that may remain in food products without posing unacceptable health risks to consumers.
- The revised limits are expected to improve regulatory compliance, support tea exports, and reduce rejection of tea consignments, while the formal government notification is awaited.
APSC Relevance: Tea Industry; Food Safety
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