News Summary
India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed maximum residue limits for two pesticides used in tea. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare announced the draft on 17 October 2026. This MedBodh report explains the proposal and its implications; the proposal is not yet a final enforceable amendment.
What Is Being Proposed?
The draft Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette on 16 October, propose an acetamiprid limit of 20 mg/kg (20 ppm) and an imidacloprid limit of 50 mg/kg (50 ppm) in tea. The official PIB release compares the proposed acetamiprid limit with 30 ppm in Japan and 50 ppm in the United States. These are proposed regulatory limits, not measurements of residues in tea currently on sale.
What Is an MRL?
A maximum residue limit is a regulatory benchmark for the highest legally permitted residue of a specified pesticide in a food commodity. It is usually expressed as milligrams per kilogram. A measured residue, an MRL and a toxicological risk threshold are different concepts. Risk depends on the chemical, amount consumed, exposure over time and toxicological evidence.
Why Tea Is Important
Tea is widely consumed in India and is also an important agricultural and export commodity. Clearly defined pesticide-specific standards can help growers select compliant crop-protection practices, assist laboratories in testing, and help food businesses maintain supply-chain traceability. Consumers should avoid assuming that the draft means tea in general is unsafe.
Implications for Growers and Food Businesses
Growers should follow approved pesticide-use instructions, including dose and pre-harvest intervals. Processors and exporters should verify the latest destination-country and Indian standards, maintain documentation and use validated residue testing when required. The draft should not be presented as already implemented.
What Happens Next?
Stakeholders should read the actual Gazette draft and follow FSSAI’s consultation and final notification process. Final values or implementation requirements may change following consultation.
Official Source
Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 17 October 2026.
MedBodh regulatory news analysis published 18 October 2026. This article is not a substitute for the final Gazette regulation.