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, residue levels in all the samples were well below the MRL prescribed by the PFA/CODEX/EU/EPA.
The south
Indian Tea Competition - The Golden Leaf India Awards
(TGLIA - 2005/2006/2007/2008) were organized by UPASI in collaboration with Tea Board, Govt. of India to showcase the quality of south Indian tea. Our laboratory was involved in the second level screening of TGLIA samples by technical analysis as per EU/PFA norms. Every year, since 2005, almost one hundred samples are analysed and 700 evaluations are carried out in connection with TGLIA.
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 are 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 had 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,soil and water
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*
-
-
-
-
-
Azadirachtin
0.01
-
-
-
-
-
Bitertanol
0.1
-
-
-
-
-
Cartap
0.1
-
20
-
-
-
Carbofuran
0.05
-
-
-
-
-
Carbosulfan
0.1
-
-
-
-
-
Chlorpyrifos
0.1
-
-
-
-
0.1
Chlordane
0.02*
-
-
-
-
-
Cypermethrin
0.5
20
20
20
-
20
Diflubenzuron
0.01
-
-
20
-
-
DDT
0.2
-
-
-
-
-
Deltamethrin
5
-
10
10
-
10
Diazinon
0.02
-
-
-
-
-
Dichlorvos
0.02
-
-
0.1
-
-
Dicofol
20
45
5
3
5
50
Dimethoate
0.05
-
-
-
-
-
Endosulfan
30
24
30
-
-
-
Ethion
3
10
7
-
5
-
Fenvalerate
0.05*
-
-
-
-
-
Fenpropathrin
2
-
-
25
-
-
Fenpyroximate
0.1
-
-
-
-
-
Fenazaquin
0.01
-
-
-
3
-
Fenitrothion
0.5
-
-
-
-
0.5
Glyphosate
2
-
-
0.5
1
-
Gluphosinate
ammonium
-
-
-
-
0.01
-
Hexaconazole
0.05
-
-
-
-
-
Hexythiazox
0.05
-
-
-
-
-
Heptachlor
0.02*
-
-
-
-
-
Imidacloprid
0.05
-
-
-
-
-
Lambdacvhalothrin
1
-
-
-
-
-
Malathion
0.5
-
-
-
-
-
Monocrotophos
0.1*
-
-
-
-
-
Oxydemeton
methyl
0.05*
-
-
-
-
-
Paraquat
0.05
-
-
-
-
-
Propargite
5
10
-
-
-
10
Propiconazole
0.1
-
-
-
-
-
Profenofos
0.1*
-
-
-
-
-
Phosalone
0.1
-
-
-
-
-
Copper
40
-
-
-
-
-
Sulphur
Formulations
5
-
-
-
-
-
Quinalphos
0.1
-
-
-
0.01
-
Thiamethoxan
0.1
-
-
-
-
-
Tridemorph
20
-
-
-
-
-
2,
4-D
0.1
-
-
-
-
-
*
Indicates lower limit of analytical determination
** As on July 2008 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, residue levels in all the samples were well below the MRL prescribed by the PFA/CODEX/EU/EPA.
