Basket
surveys are being conducted at periodic intervals
in different tea districts of south India to determine
the level of residues of the commonly used pesticides
in processed tea. Surveys showed the presence of
pesticide residues in certain surveyed samples.
However, the residue levels in these samples were
well below the MRL prescribed by the PFA/CODEX/EU/EPA.
The south
Indian Tea Competition -The Golden Leaf India Awards
(TGLIA-2005) was organized
by UPASI in collaboration with Tea Board, Govt.
of India to showcase the quality of south Indian
tea. Our laboratory involved in the second level
screening of competition samples by technical analysis
as per EU/PFA norms. About 133 samples were analyzed
and a total of 700 residue estimations were carried
out within a short span of time.
The Inter
Governmental Group (IGG) of CODEX
finalized the list of 25 chemicals for protection
in tea in India. Based on the priority list, the
residue data as per norms will be generated for
the chemicals and submitted to IGG working group
on tea. Our laboratory was assigned to act as nodal
laboratory in India for data generation and compilation
of residue data for submission to IGG/CODEX. Available
data has been submitted to CODEX for fixing MRL
in tea for few chemicals such as chlorpyrifos, paraquat,
ethion, quinalphos and fenpropathrin.
Major activities
of the laboratory
Analytical services
to the tea estates for pesticide residues
and heavy metals in green leaves, black tea
& tea infusion
Generating residue data
for fixing MRL in tea
Conducting GAP based field
trials for generation of residue data on new
molecules for registration purposes
Dissipation studies on pesticide
residues
Developing residue/analytical
methodology for pesticide residues in green
tea leaves, black tea and tea infusion
Assay of agrochemicals for
its suitability in tea plantations, agro input
analysis for heavy metal impurity
Maximum
Residue Limit (MRL) of certain pesticides
on tea by International Organizations
Name
of the Chemical
Pesticide
residues MRL (mg/kg) by
EU/EEC
EPA
FAO/WHO
JAPAN
PFA
CODEX
Acephate
0.1
-
-
-
-
-
Aldrin/Dieldrin
0.02*
-
-
-
-
-
Bitertanol
0.1
-
-
-
-
-
Cartap
0.1
-
20
-
-
-
Carbofuran
0.2
-
-
-
-
-
Carbosulfan
0.1
-
-
-
-
-
Chlorpyrifos
0.1
-
-
-
-
0.1
Chlordane
0.02*
-
-
-
-
-
Cypermethrin
0.5
20
20
20
-
20
Diflubenzuron
0.05
-
-
20
-
-
DDT
0.2
-
-
-
-
-
Deltamethrin
5
-
10
10
-
10
Diazinon
0.05
-
-
-
-
-
Dichlorvos
0.1
-
-
0.1
-
-
Dicofol
20
45
5
3
5
50
Dimethoate
0.05
-
-
-
-
-
Endosulfan
30
24
30
-
-
30
Ethion
2
10
7
-
5
-
Fenvalerate
0.05*
-
-
-
-
-
Fenpropathrin
0.02(G)
-
-
25
-
-
Fenazaquin
-
-
-
-
3
-
Fenitrothion
0.5
-
-
-
-
0.5
Glyphosate
0.1
-
-
0.5
1
-
Gluphosinate
ammonium
-
-
-
-
0.01
-
Hexaconazole
0.05
-
-
-
-
-
Heptachlor
0.02*
-
-
-
-
-
Lambdacvhalothrin
1
-
-
-
-
-
Malathion
0.5
-
-
-
-
-
Monocrotophos
0.1*
-
-
-
-
-
Oxydemeton
methyl
0.05*
-
-
-
-
-
Paraquat
0.1
-
-
-
-
-
Propargite
5
10
-
-
-
10
Propiconazole
0.1
-
-
-
-
-
Profenofos
0.1*
-
-
-
-
-
Phosalone
0.1
-
-
-
-
-
Copper
Oxychloride
Exempted
-
-
-
-
-
Surplus
Formulations
Exempted
-
-
-
-
-
Quinalphos
0.1
-
-
-
0.01
-
Tridemorph
20
-
-
-
-
-
2,
4-D
0.1
-
-
-
-
-
*
Indicates lower limit of analytical determination
** As on October 2005 EU
– European Union EEC - European
Economic Commission EPA
– Environmental
Protection Agency of USA FAO/WHO
– Food &
Agricultural Organization/World Health Organization
PFA – Prevention
of Food adulteration, India
Basket
surveys are being conducted at periodic intervals
in different tea districts of south India to determine
the level of residues of the commonly used pesticides
in processed tea. Surveys showed the presence of
pesticide residues in certain surveyed samples.
However, the residue levels in these samples were
well below the MRL prescribed by the PFA/CODEX/EU/EPA.
