GUIDELINES AGAINST USE OF PESTICIDES
IN TEA GROWING
India is making all
out efforts to satisfy Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) fixed by
the European Union (EU) and the guidelines of EU have already
been circulated to the tea industry for information and compliance.
The overall position regarding compliance of EU regulations on
residue is quite satisfactory in case of Indian teas exported
to EU.
Pesticide Residue
Limits fixed by EU for tea as on 16/12/2002 covered about 200
chemicals. In most of the cases MRLs are fixed at the lowest detectable
levels. However, there is no banned list of chemicals from the
EU. The limits for chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds are very
stringent and this group of chemicals is totally discouraged for
application.
This was stated by
Shri Ch. Vidya Sagar Rao, Minister of State for Commerce &
Industry, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
