Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and India is the second-largest producer of tea after China. However, tea cultivation faces many challenges, such as pests and diseases, that affect the quality and quantity of tea. To protect the tea plants from these threats, tea growers often use chemical pesticides, which may leave harmful residues in the tea and pose health risks to consumers.
In order to ensure the safety and quality of tea, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued guidelines and regulations for the use of pesticides in tea plantations. The FSSAI has operationalised the maximum residue limit (MRL) for five pesticides used in tea: emamectin benzoate, fenpyroximate, hexaconazole, propiconazole, and quinalphos . These pesticides have been approved by the Registration Committee of Central Insecticides Board (CIB) and have a label claim for tea. The FSSAI has also circulated a list of 20 banned pesticides that should not be used in tea plantations . The presence of any banned pesticides or any other chemical without a label claim for tea would be taken seriously by the FSSAI and the Tea Board India.
The FSSAI has also encouraged the adoption of integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) practices in tea plantations, which aim to achieve effective control of pests and diseases with minimal use of pesticides that are safer to use. The IPDM practices include biological control, cultural control, mechanical control, physical control, and botanical pesticides . The use of bio-pesticides, such as neem oil, garlic extract, and bacillus thuringiensis, can reduce the dependence on chemical pesticides and enhance the sustainability of tea production. Bio-pesticides are derived from natural sources and have low toxicity to humans and non-target organisms. They also have low persistence in the environment and do not accumulate in the food chain.
The FSSAI’s mandate to regulate the use of pesticides in tea plantations is aimed at safeguarding the plantation environment, welfare of the workers and small farmers, and long-term security of supply. It is also intended to meet the consumer demand for products produced sustainably without adversely impacting the environment. By following the FSSAI’s guidelines and adopting IPDM practices, tea growers can ensure that their tea is safe, healthy, and high-quality.