FSSAI proposes pesticide residue limits for tea

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) for two pesticides, acetamiprid and imidacloprid, in tea, said a release issued by the Central Government on Saturday (October 17, 2026). 

The draft Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on Friday (October 16), propose MRLs of 20 mg/kg (20 parts per million) for acetamiprid and 50 mg/kg (50 ppm) for imidacloprid in tea.

The proposed limits are intended to establish regulatory benchmarks for pesticide residues in tea and facilitate compliance, monitoring and enforcement of food safety requirements, subject to the finalisation of the draft regulations.

Notably, the proposed acetamiprid limit is lower than the corresponding limits of 30 ppm in Japan and 50 ppm in the United States. The proposed imidacloprid limit is also based on international Codex standards. 

“Maximum Residue Limits are an important component of food safety regulation. They specify the maximum legally permitted concentration of pesticide residues in food commodities and are established based on scientific assessments, taking into account pesticide residue data, dietary exposure and relevant safety considerations,’’ said the release.

It added that India’s average pesticide use in agriculture, at less than 0.5 kg per hectare, is significantly below the estimated global average of 2.38 kg per hectare. “It is also lower than the levels reported in several countries, including Colombia, Brazil and the United States,” the release said.

The proposed limits are intended to provide greater regulatory clarity to tea growers, processors, food businesses, testing laboratories and enforcement authorities.