• A recent advisory released by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) raised the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) of pesticides in India in spices and herbs to 0.1 mg/kg from 0.01 mg/kg.

• This change is said to be guided by data from field trials conducted by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC). 

• Due to the lack of field trial data in countries like India, the MRLs will be fixed based on data generated from the Monitoring of Pesticide Residues at National Level (MPRNL) by the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

• In case the pesticide is registered with CIB&RC, and the MRLs are specified for food commodities other than spices and culinary herbs, the standards set in the Codex Alimentarius, approved by the WHO and FAO will apply.

• If the MRLs are not specified in the codex or the pesticide is not registered with the CIB&RC, the MRL of 0.1 mg/kg will apply.

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