FSSAI workshop discusses MRLs for pesticides, veterinary drugs & antibiotics in foods for animals and in processed foods

FSSAI conducted a workshop on fixation of maximum residue levels for pesticides, veterinary drugs and antibiotics in foods for animals and in processed foods

The workshop was held in New Delhi on 1 and 2 February 2016. More than 100 experts from India and abroad participated in the workshop.

Dr. S.C. Khurana, Consultant, FSSAI extended a warm welcome to all the participants while Shri Kumar Anil, Advisor (FSSAI Standards) welcomed the dignitaries with floral bouquets. The CEO FSSAI, Pawan Kumar Agarwal, gave the welcome address and mentioned that food safety is challenging as it involves the safety of all consumers. He also laid emphasis on taking care of non-vegetarian products as they are popular with a large segment of the population. In this regard, it is important for FBOs to fully understand standards relating to pesticides, veterinary drugs, antibiotics and their residues in the food chain. He further mentioned the need to have a proper framework for ensuring safe food which should be at par with the global standards.

Dr. D. Kanungo, Chair, Scientific Panel on Pesticides and Antibiotics Residues briefed the participants about the workshop. In his address, Dr. Kanungo mentioned how the misuse of antibiotics in human and veterinary practices and in agriculture was leading to resistance. He emphasized the fact that unless residues in meat and meat products, chicken, milk etc. are controlled therapeutic use of veterinary drugs and antibiotics in meat and chicken will also continue. The demand in the international market is for safe food and Indian processed foods will not be able to compete unless there are good standards and safe products.

The first presentation was made on ‘Succinct Review on Principles of Toxicological Hazard and Risk Assessment’ and the conclusion drawn was that their risk assessment is based on assumptions to predict the safety of residues in food. Therefore, there is a need for more realistic residue values from supervised trials and estimates should be refined on innovative concepts like “edible portion”, “processing factor,” regional consumption and more reliable safety factors.

Dr. Joe Boison, Senior Research Scientist, Centre for Veterinary Drug Residues, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Member-JECFA of FAO/WHO made a presentation where he explained the nature and purpose of Codex standards and how MRLs have been determined for pesticides and veterinary drugs. He also spoke about the role of Good Agricultural Practices in the use of pesticides (GAP) and Good Practices in the use of veterinary drugs (GVP), antimicrobials.

Dr. J. Padmaja made a presentation on ‘Fixation of MRLs for Pesticide Residues in Processed Foods: Modalities’. The presentation was focused on processed foods and highlighted various types of food processing, effects of food processing on the pesticide residues, factors influencing MRLs for pesticide residues in the processed foods etc.

Dr. Aditya Jain’s presentation was on ‘Modalities and Protocol for Fixation of MRLs in Milk and Milk Products including Risk Assessment’. The presentation was mainly in the context of milk and milk products and the path of residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs in milk and therefrom in milk products, protocols for assessing risk assessment were highlighted.

Recommendations at the workshop

• Antibiotics meant for human use must not be given to food-producing animals
• A need to have regulatorily approved label claims for pesticides, antimicrobials and veterinary drugs
• Need to fix MRLs for processed foods from agricultural commodities as these are highly traded nationally and internationally. Dietary intake should be a consideration when calculating pesticide residues in processed foods
• National Good Aquaculture Practices should be developed to limit the usage of antibiotics and pesticides during farming operations.
• ICAR is likely to develop practices for aquaculture that restricts/regulates the application of pesticides and unapproved antimicrobials.
• There is a requirement for a systematic and architectural change for approval and certification of drugs and growth supplements in aquaculture.
• A national residue database should be created in the digital platform as there is a gap regarding residues of veterinary drugs in foods originating from meat, milk, and fish. It is recommended that the FSSAI initiate

1. A coordinated Network Project to develop a database
2. Collect data of residues of veterinary drugs from various institutes, laboratories, individuals and industry and prepare a central repository database.

• With the help of Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), manufacturers of veterinary drugs must submit the required data with the approved method (Guidelines need to be developed) to FSSAI for fixation of MRLs in edible animal products.
• Fodder is the major source of pesticides residues found in foods derived from animals. Hence, data on pesticides residues on the parts of crops used for fodder needs to be generated and provided.
• National Monograph for each pesticide to be prepared for transparency.
• Region/Zone/Sector wise workshops to be organized by the concerned sectors in collaboration with FSSAI.