FSSAI proposed new pesticide residue limits in tea

The Indian food safety regulator FSSAI has initiated amendments to the regulations concerning maximum residue limits of pesticides in tea. The relevant draft regulation entitled Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2026 was officially published by the Ministry of Health on Saturday. The innovations are designed to balance the objectives of effective crop protection and the interests of final consumers.

The presented draft establishes specific numerical values of maximum residue limits for two preparations: for acetamiprid (Acetamiprid), the application rate is proposed at 20 mg/kg (20 ppm), and for imidacloprid (Imidacloprid) — at 50 mg/kg (50 ppm). The ministry noted that the 20 ppm limit for acetamiprid in tea turned out to be lower than similar figures in Japan (30 ppm) and the USA (50 ppm), while the application rate for imidacloprid was developed taking into account international Codex standards.

The developed standards are designed to provide clear guidelines for regulation, simplify control, compliance and enforcement for producers, processors, laboratories and the agricultural business. These figures are formed on the basis of scientific assessments that take into account residue data, dietary impact and safety measures.

The agency emphasized the importance of the correct application of chemical agents for pest control, preventing harvest losses and maintaining productivity in agriculture. At the same time, it is noted that the average volume of pesticide use in India is less than 0.5 kg per hectare, which is noticeably lower than the global average of 2.38 kg per hectare. The initiative is part of the ongoing work of FSSAI to update standards based on scientific data and global practice, which previously also included the revision of standards within the framework of the 2024 regulations and the exclusion of the 13 most toxic pesticides.