FSSAI draft proposes maximum residue limits for two pesticides in tea
17 October 2026
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has notified draft amendments proposing maximum residue limits for two pesticides in tea. The draft sets a limit of 20 mg per kg for Acetamiprid and 50 mg per kg for Imidacloprid. The amendments are proposed as the draft Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2026, and the limits are subject to finalisation of the draft. Average pesticide use in India is under 0.5 kg per hectare against a global average of 2.38 kg per hectare. Maximum residue limits matter for tea because a large part of Indian production is exported and buyers test consignments against such limits.
In plain words
MRL Maximum Residue Limit — The highest level of a pesticide residue legally allowed in a food.
FSSAI Food Safety and Standards Authority of India — The statutory regulator for food standards, set up under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.