AIM , IIPMB

1. Safe Use of Pesticide

2. Maximum Residue Level (MRL)
• To determine the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) for
each crop for pesticide used on them.
• The MRL is not the safety standard. It is legal limit
that is allowed on the crop/food.
• Eg:MRL-2 mg/kg of aldicarp permitted for Banana

3. Acceptable daily intake (ADI)
• Safety is defined by ADI.
• Maximum Residue Limit must be within ADI.

4. Calculate what you can eat…
• Your malathion diet…
As per (WHO/ FAO)
0.3x 60 kg = 18 mg/ day for you or
0.3x10 kg = 3 mg/day for your child

5. Actual exposures?
Above MRL (1.4%)
Free from
residues
(63%)
Within
MRL
(35.6)
European Union (1996)
Above MRL (4.8%)
Free from
residues
(28%)
Within
MRL
(67.2%)
USA (1996)
Above MRL
(20%)
Free from
residues
(41%)
Within
MRL
(39%)
India (1965-98)
Source:
G S Dhaliwal & Balwinder
Singh,
2000: 208

6. Indian trade at risk.
• Indian food, fruit, spice, tea, seafood exports
are at risk because of high pesticide residues
and quality of product.
• We have to reduce our residues. We have to
enforce standards. We have no choice.

7. Govt Control
• The sale of spurious products have spiked in India lately.
• A recent survey by National Level Pesticide Manufacturers
Association showed that there are multiple multiblebeing
sold in the market which either don't have any registration
certificate number issued by CIRB& RC (Central Insecticide
board and registration committee)
• or don't mention active ingredients, license number or
address on the label

8. Spurious products
• Leading to rejection of export consignments of
grapes, chilies and rice in recent years.
• Market studies show that only 25-30% of the
farmers are aware of the use of pesticides.
• Hence the majority of farmer easily fall prey to
spurious products.

9. States
• The problem is particularly grave in the
states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh,
Gujarat etc.
• The business of spurious products in AP
alone was estimated at 500 Cr in 2011

10. United States
• Pesticide industry is highly regulated across
the globe.
• In the US, the regulation of chemical
Pesticides is done by Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA)

11. Challenges
• A long period of 3 years is required for approval of pesticides due
to requirement of data on parameters of Chemistry, Toxicology,
Metabolism, Persistence, Efficacy, and Patents& Trade Marks.
• The cost of data generation is 2 Cr, leading to loss of business
opportunity for the companies in terms of both cost and time.
• Export registration requirements are extremely stringent leading
to huge data generation costs and missed opportunity due to
long clearance period

12. Challenges
• Due to lack of inspection staff, inspection of
pesticides is generally done for top 20 to 25
• MNCs or large Indian companies, which
usually follow the procedures and meet the
norms.
• However, this leaves many small companies
and importers products to remain
uninspected

13. Safety
• Pesticides should be packed and labelled
according to WHO specifications .
• The label should be in English and in the local
language, and should indicate the contents,
safety instructions (warnings) and possible
measures in the event of swallowing or
contamination.
• Always keep pesticides in their original
containers.

14. Safety
• Left-over insecticide suspension can be
disposed of safely by pouring it into a
specially dug hole in the ground or a pit
latrine .
• It should not be disposed of where it may
enter water used for drinking or washing,
fish ponds or rivers.

15. Safety
• Bury containers, boxes and bottles used and
close the hole as soon as possible.
• Cardboard, paper and cleaned plastic
containers can be burned where this is
permitted, far away from houses and sources
of drinking-water

16. Cleaning used pesticide containers
• The reuse of pesticide containers is risky and
not recommended.
• The label should provide instructions on
possibilities for reuse and cleaning
procedures.

17. General hygiene
• Do not eat, drink or smoke while using insecticides.
Keep food in tightly closed boxes.
• Use suitable equipment for measuring out, mixing and
transferring insecticides .
• Do not stir liquids or scoop pesticide with bare hands.
• Wash the hands and face with soap and water each
time the pump has been refilled.
• Take a shower or bath at the end of the day

18. General hygiene
• Spray workers should wear overalls.
• The mouth and nose should be covered with a
simple device such as a disposable paper mask.
• In hot and humid climates the wearing of
additional protective clothing may be
uncomfortable, and pesticides should therefore
be applied during the cooler hours of the day.

19. Spraying
• The discharge from the sprayer should be directed
away from the body.
• Leaking equipment should be repaired and the skin
should be washed after any accidental
contamination.
• Persons and domestic animals must not remain
indoors during spraying.
•

20. Regulations
• Pesticide use in India is regulated by the
Central Insecticides Board and Registration
Committee (CIBRC)
• MRL’s are decided by Food Safety and
Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

21. FSSAI
Pest Control Systems
Treatment with permissible chemical,
physical or biological agents, within the
permissible limits,
Treatment to be carried out without posing a
threat to the safety or suitability of food.
Records of pesticides / insecticides used
along with dates and frequency to be
maintained.

22. Pesticide Management Bill
• The bill sets criteria by which the pesticides can
be classified as misbranded, sub-standard or
spurious
• The Bill establishes a procedure to license
manufacturers & distributors of pesticides which
is administered by state governments.
• Pesticide inspectors are given the power to
inspect facilities and collect pesticide samples to
be tested by pesticide analysts.

23. Spurious agro-chemicals
If it is not registered or licensed in the manner required by or under this Act.
If on test or analysis it shows active ingredient higher or lower even
beyond the limits prescribed under clause .
If it is an imitation of, or is sold under the name of, another pesticide.
If the container bears the name of the person or company purporting to be the
manufacturer of the pesticide, which is either fictitious or does not

24. Spurious agro-chemicals
• If it has outlived its shelf-life, as evident by
the date of manufacture.
• and the date of expiry as printed on its label,
approved by the Registration.
• If its import, manufacture, use or sale is
prohibited and it is found to.

25. Punishment
• whoever uses or causes to use a pesticide in
contravention of any provision of this Act or
any rule :
• Punishable with a fine which shall not be less
than twenty-five thousand rupees but which
may extend to fifty thousand rupees.
• Imprisonment for a term which may extend
to six months, or with both

26. Punishment
• Pesticide Inspector, or an officer exercising
the power :
• the rules made thereunder shall be liable to a
penalty which may extend to twenty-five
thousand rupees and Imprisonment.

27. Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Pest management that utilizes several
strategies to control insects and other
pests rather than strictly relying on
chemical control.
Four Components…

28. 1. Pest identification – important for
proper pest control
– Confuse beneficial insects with
harmful (not all bugs are bad!)
– Pest that’s on the plant may not be
the one causing damage.
– Damage may not even be caused by
an insect (herbicide or nutritional
deficiency, weather damage etc.)
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Components

29. 2. Surveying for pests –
systematically check for
pests and pest damage
– Pheromone traps
– Sweeping the field
– Random leaf, fruit and
stem samples
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Components

30. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Components
3. Encourage Beneficial Insect/Animal Populations
– Use milder chemicals or selective sprays that don’t kill
beneficial animals.
– Examples – “Barn Owl Nesting Boxes” – rodent control
– Predatory wasp populations – fly control in poultry and dairy
operations
– Natural insect enemies – lady bugs, lace wings, praying
mantis, predatory mites

31. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Components
4. Control Action Guidelines –
Application of pesticides only after a certain
number of pests have been found and there is a
threat of economic loss.