FSSAI URGES STATES TO FORM COMMITTEES FOR PESTICIDE REDUCTION

Why in the news?

  • Regulatory Directive: FSSAI has advised state to form inter-ministerial committees on reducing use of pesticide in agriculture , discussed in the 44th Central Advisory Committee meeting.
  • Safety Concerns: FSSAI called for cut on use of pesticides in agriculture and encouraged environmental friendly farming, FSSAI stressed consumer’s health protection from risks linked to pesticide residues.
source:Cropin

About FSSAI’s Initiative:

Protect Consumers:

  • Initiative aims to protect consumers from health risks that may be occasioned due to pesticide residues on foodstuffs.
  • FSSAI concern is to mitigate long term health effects of pesticide exposure on humans by reducing pesticide use.

Sustainable Practices:

  • This effort is also in consonance with goals that promote the concept of sustainable Agriculture that is critical in support of sustainable food security in India.

Implementation Strategy:

Mobile Labs:

  • FSSAI has emphasised the need of states to identify strategic location would be ideal for deploying Mobile Labs known as ‘Food Safety on Wheels’.
  • These labs will help in providing the public with information on food hygiene and these will also be used to identify the level of pesticide residue in foods imported in the country.

Awareness Campaigns:

  • The mobile labs will not only analyze and examine the food products for pesticide residues but also present to the consumer and the farmers the ill effects of using high amounts of pesticide on crops and impacts of using alternate  safer pesticides.
What are Pesticides?

Pesticides:

Pesticides are chemicals that are used to eradicate pests such as fungi, bacteria, insects and plant diseases while insecticides are chemical that are used to kill insects only.

Other Chemicals:

  • Molluscicides: Tackle snails, slugs and other small gastropod molluscs.
  • Fungicides: Withstand damaging fungi to avoid penetration through the plant tissue.
  • Herbicides: Minimise and control weed growth Continue to control the growth of weeds.

Pesticide Registration:

  • About 292 pesticides are presently registered in India with the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage.

Ministry Associated:

  • The Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

Regulations  Related to Pesticide in India:

  • Legislation:  In India the usage and sale of pesticides is governed by the ‘Insecticides Act of 1968’ and the ‘Insecticides Rules of 1971’.

Insecticides Act, 1968:

  • Purpose: In order to control the importation, manufacture, sale, transport, distribution and usage of insecticides and pesticides for averting dangers that may prevail to human and animals, this act was passed.

Recent Development:

  • Pesticides Management Bill, 2020: To address the current state of challenges, the Union Cabinet approved the Pesticides Management Bill, 2020.

Associated Article:

https://universalinstitutions.com/current-affairs/page/85/