Health · Public Health & Disease · 9 hrs ago
India proposes pesticide residue limits for tea
India’s food regulator FSSAI has proposed limits for two pesticide residues in tea.
The draft sets a maximum of 20 milligrams per kilogram for acetamiprid and 50 milligrams per kilogram for imidacloprid.
These limits set the highest legally permitted residue levels in tea.
The proposal aims to protect consumers while allowing pesticides to be used appropriately to protect crops.
The acetamiprid limit is lower than the levels cited for Japan and the United States, while the imidacloprid limit was developed with reference to international Codex standards.
The proposed limits would give clearer rules for tea growers, processors, businesses, testing laboratories and enforcement authorities.
The rules are not final yet and will take effect only if the draft regulations are finalised.
India’s food regulator has proposed maximum residue limits for two pesticides in tea.
The draft sets limits of 20 mg/kg for Acetamiprid and 50 mg/kg for Imidacloprid.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India says the limits are intended to support consumer protection and clearer monitoring and enforcement.
The proposal is part of a wider review of pesticide residue standards.
The limits remain subject to finalisation of the draft regulations.
- Who
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) proposed the limits.
- What
- It proposed maximum residue limits in tea of 20 mg/kg for Acetamiprid and 50 mg/kg for Imidacloprid.
- When
- The proposal was reported on October 17, 2026.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The regulator says the limits would protect consumers and provide clearer benchmarks for compliance, monitoring and enforcement, while recognising the need for crop protection.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
FSSAI’s amendment regulations involved a review of pesticide residue limits based on available scientific data and global practices.
The Health Ministry said FSSAI had notified draft amendments proposing pesticide residue limits for tea.
- Acetamiprid
- Proposed tea limit: 20 mg/kg (20 ppm)
- Imidacloprid
- Proposed tea limit: 50 mg/kg (50 ppm)
- Acetamiprid comparison
- India’s proposed limit is below Japan’s 30 ppm and the United States’ 50 ppm
- Regulatory status
- Draft limits are subject to finalisation
- Earlier measure
- FSSAI previously delisted 13 pesticides identified as having higher toxicity
What people are saying
The proposed limits are intended to provide clearly defined regulatory benchmarks for pesticide residues, facilitating compliance, monitoring and enforcement of food safety requirements, subject to finalisation of the draft regulations.
Pesticides, when used appropriately and in accordance with prescribed practices, help farmers protect crops against pests, minimise crop losses and maintain agricultural productivity.