Plea to Ban All Unregistered Pesticides

Cochin, India, Jul. 11 2002 (INS News) -- Spices Board, A unit of Government of India, has represented the government to ban all unregistered pesticides in view of the high pesticide residue norms insisted by European Union and other countries.

In the last one year, some consignments of Indian spices, particularly chillies, have faced rejection from European Union and Australia as a result of high standard of pesticide residue level.

C J Jose, Chairman spices Board said there are around 76 registered pesticides. But the Indian growers also use some pesticides not coming in the registered category. ``In such cases, the correct dosage or toxicity may not have been measured. When it is registered, these information will have to be stated.''

In the case of chillies, when it was rejected by Australia, Spices Board found that the maximum residue level (MRL) was kept higher than that of the grapes. The country then revised the limits and presently there is few problems in chillies exports to Australia. Spain was the other country which rejected chillies consignments from India.

Apart from pesticide residue, the other major concern of the EU is aflatoxin, which is a mould appearing in chillies and other spices.

- Mohamed Ansif - Correspondent in Cochin, India
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