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 the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
He emphasized the need for a strong national strategy to monitor pesticide residues and urged all stakeholders to collaborate in promoting best practices for food safety and sustainability. The consultation aimed to address concerns related to pesticide residues in food and enhance food safety mechanisms across India.
This consultation is the first in a series of discussions on critical issues such as sustainable packaging, nutraceuticals, and antimicrobial resistance. Jadhav praised FSSAI’s initiative and stressed the necessity of reviewing existing pesticide monitoring practices.
He highlighted the crucial role of agriculture in ensuring food security and livelihoods and noted that modern farmers are increasingly open to adopting new technologies, making it easier to educate them about Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). He urged collaboration among all stakeholders to develop concrete action plans that minimize pesticide residues in food commodities.
Union Minister pointed out that the consultation would help identify gaps in existing pesticide monitoring systems, leading to stronger food safety frameworks. He commended FSSAI’s efforts in reinforcing regulations and ensuring food safety for consumers.
Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava also addressed the gathering, stressing the dangers of indiscriminate pesticide use and its impact on public health. She underscored the importance of strengthening monitoring systems and raising awareness to ensure that all consumers have access to safe food. Srivastava called for actionable strategies that prioritize public health and align with global food safety standards.
Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, raised concerns about the prevalence of spurious pesticides in the market. He advocated for the judicious use of pesticides to protect consumer health while maintaining agricultural productivity.
Meanwhile, Subrata Gupta, Secretary of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, highlighted the economic consequences of pesticide misuse, stating that it not only affects public health but also damages trade and commerce.
In his concluding remarks, FSSAI CEO G. Kamala Vardhana Rao reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to food safety through stringent monitoring and regulations. He emphasized that ensuring food safety protects public health, the environment, farmers' livelihoods, and international trade. Rao noted that insights from this consultation would serve as the foundation for more effective policies and regulations to address pesticide residue challenges.
The consultation brought together government officials, scientific experts, regulatory bodies, industry representatives, farmer organizations, and consumer associations to discuss strategies for improving pesticide residue monitoring.
The event featured technical sessions and a panel discussion on global regulatory frameworks and national-level challenges. Experts from the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR), FAO, ICAR, CIB&RC, and FSSAI’s Scientific Panel on Pesticide Residues shared insights on enhancing national surveillance programs, improving laboratory capabilities, and aligning India’s Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) with international standards.
During an open forum discussion, stakeholders voiced concerns over challenges in implementing effective monitoring systems, excessive pesticide use, and the need for harmonization of MRLs with global benchmarks. Participants also emphasized the importance of educating farmers, introducing digital traceability solutions, and promoting sustainable alternatives such as bio-pesticides and Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
