FSSAI has proposed legal limits on two pesticides in tea, the country’s most popular drink. The draft rules would set clear benchmarks for how much residue of the pesticides acetamiprid and imidacloprid can legally be present in tea.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) published the draft Food Safety and Standards Amendment Regulations, 2026, in the Gazette of India on October 16. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the proposal sets a maximum residue limit (MRL) of 20 mg/kg, or 20 parts per million (ppm), for acetamiprid, and 50 mg/kg (50 ppm) for imidacloprid. The rules are not yet final.
What the limits mean
A maximum residue limit is the highest concentration of pesticide residue legally allowed in a food. These limits are set using scientific assessments that look at residue data, dietary exposure and safety considerations. They give regulators a basis for testing food, monitoring residues and taking action against violations.
How India compares
According to the ministry, the proposed limit for acetamiprid is lower than those in Japan (30 ppm) and the United States (50 ppm). The limit for imidacloprid was framed with reference to international Codex standards.
The ministry said the amendment reflects FSSAI’s approach of reviewing residue standards based on scientific assessment, international practice and India’s agricultural needs.
Who it affects
The draft aims to give tea growers, processors, food businesses, testing laboratories and enforcement authorities clearer standards to follow. If finalised, it would help producers and labs work to consistent benchmarks and help authorities judge compliance.
Part of a wider review
The tea proposal is part of a longer effort to revise pesticide residue rules. An earlier step was the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2024, which involved assessing scientific data and international practices. The ministry also pointed to the earlier delisting of 13 pesticides identified as having higher toxicity.
The balancing act
The ministry said pesticides, when used properly and as prescribed, help farmers protect crops, cut losses and maintain productivity. It added that food safety rules must balance crop protection against the priority of keeping consumers safe from unsafe residues.
It also noted that India’s average pesticide use is under 0.5 kg per hectare, far below the estimated global average of 2.38 kg per hectare. Pesticide registrations differ between countries depending on crops, climate and agricultural needs, it said.
What happens next
The proposed limits remain subject to finalisation through the regulatory process. Until then, the figures could change.