FSSAI Proposes New Pesticide Residue Limits for Tea to Strengthen Food Safety

India’s food safety regulator, FSSAI, has proposed revised pesticide residue limits for tea, aiming to strengthen consumer protection, improve regulatory clarity and align standards with scientific assessments and international practices.

FSSAI Proposes Revised Limits for Two Pesticides in Tea

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed new maximum residue limits (MRLs) for two pesticides, Acetamiprid and Imidacloprid, in tea. The proposal is part of the regulator’s continuing efforts to improve food safety standards and protect consumers from potential risks associated with pesticide residues.

The draft Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2026, was published in the Gazette of India on October 16, 2026. The proposed limits will become applicable subject to the finalisation of the draft regulations.

Proposed Maximum Residue Limits

Under the proposed amendment, FSSAI has recommended the following pesticide residue limits for tea:

• Acetamiprid: 20 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), equivalent to 20 parts per million (ppm).

• Imidacloprid: 50 mg/kg, equivalent to 50 ppm.

These limits are intended to establish clear benchmarks for testing pesticide residues and assessing compliance with food safety regulations.

Proposed Standards Consider International Practices

According to FSSAI, the proposed limits have been formulated after considering scientific assessments, international regulatory approaches and the needs of Indian agriculture.

The proposed Acetamiprid limit of 20 ppm is lower than the corresponding limits cited for Japan, at 30 ppm, and the United States, at 50 ppm. The proposed Imidacloprid standard has also been developed with reference to international Codex standards.

FSSAI periodically reviews pesticide residue requirements to reflect available scientific evidence and evolving regulatory practices. The latest proposal continues this approach by seeking to establish standards that account for both consumer safety and domestic agricultural conditions.

What Are Maximum Residue Limits?

Maximum Residue Limits specify the highest legally permitted concentration of pesticide residues in a food commodity. These limits are established using scientific assessments that consider pesticide residue data, dietary exposure and relevant safety factors.

Importance for Food Safety Monitoring

MRLs provide measurable standards that testing laboratories, food businesses and enforcement authorities can use to assess whether food products comply with applicable regulations.

Clearly defined limits can also help growers and processors understand regulatory requirements, encourage responsible pesticide application and support consistent monitoring throughout the food supply chain.

However, an MRL is a regulatory limit for residues in a particular food commodity; it should not be interpreted on its own as a direct measure of the health risk posed by a food product.

FSSAI Continues Reviewing Pesticide Regulations

The proposed amendment follows earlier regulatory changes introduced through the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2024. Those revisions incorporated changes to pesticide residue limits based on assessments of available scientific information.

Earlier measures also included the removal of 13 pesticides identified as having higher toxicity from the relevant regulatory listings, reflecting efforts to strengthen consumer safeguards.

The regulator’s latest proposal forms part of a broader process of reviewing residue standards as scientific evidence and international practices develop.

Balancing Crop Protection With Consumer Safety

Pesticides play a role in protecting crops against pests, reducing agricultural losses and maintaining productivity when they are used according to prescribed practices. At the same time, pesticide residues in food must be monitored to ensure compliance with established safety requirements.

FSSAI’s proposed framework seeks to balance these agricultural needs with the responsibility to protect consumers. The approach aims to support effective crop management while ensuring that food safety remains a priority.

India’s Pesticide Consumption in Perspective

Information cited in the proposal indicates that India’s average pesticide consumption is below 0.5 kilograms per hectare, considerably lower than the estimated global average of 2.38 kilograms per hectare.

India’s reported average is also below the levels cited for countries such as Colombia, Brazil and the United States. Different countries register and regulate pesticides according to their agricultural conditions, crop requirements and climatic environments.

These differences underline the importance of developing standards that consider domestic farming practices while drawing on relevant scientific evidence and international regulatory experience.

What the Proposed Limits Mean for India’s Tea Industry

The proposed MRLs could provide greater clarity to tea growers, processors, food businesses, testing laboratories and regulatory authorities.

Clearly defined standards may help industry stakeholders improve residue monitoring, follow responsible pesticide-use practices and meet applicable compliance requirements. Consistent testing and enforcement can also support confidence in the quality and safety of Indian tea.

The practical impact of the proposal will depend on the final regulations and their implementation. Until the amendment is finalised, the proposed limits should be understood as draft standards rather than confirmed final requirements.

Conclusion

FSSAI’s proposed pesticide residue limits for Acetamiprid and Imidacloprid represent another step towards evidence-based food safety regulation in India. By considering scientific assessments, international practices and agricultural requirements, the draft aims to strengthen monitoring and consumer protection while supporting responsible crop management. The final regulations will determine the standards that tea industry stakeholders must follow.