As countries adopt increasingly stringent residue regulations and global food supply chains face greater scrutiny, compliance with pesticide residue standards has become a critical issue for farmers, exporters and policymakers alike. The challenge is particularly significant for major agricultural producers such as India, where a vast diversity of crops is grown across different agro-climatic regions and supplied to both domestic and international markets.

Against this backdrop, a nine-year analysis of residue monitoring data is shedding new light on the actual levels of pesticide residue compliance being recorded across India's food supply chain.

The analysis, highlighted by the Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI), draws on data generated through one of the country's largest residue monitoring programmes and covers a broad range of agricultural commodities including cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables, milk, spices, tea and other food products.

"It is unfortunate that agrochemicals are singled out whenever there are issues on residues or contamination. As a responsible association, Crop Care Federation of India (CCFI) undertakes studies and analyses data so as to project the factual position among stakeholders, scientific fraternity, bureaucrats, housewives and public at large. The purpose is to establish logically and convincingly that our food is safe, healthy and nutritious," said Harish Mehta, Senior Advisor, CCFI.

Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) are the legally permitted maximum concentrations of pesticide residues in or on food and animal feed commodities. They are established following rigorous toxicological evaluations and are designed to ensure consumer safety while facilitating domestic and international trade.

MRLs play an important role in enforcing Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). Exceedances may indicate misuse of crop protection products, including excessive application rates, incorrect application timing or use on crops for which products are not approved.

The standards are also central to international agricultural trade. Exporters must comply with residue requirements established by importing countries, and shipments exceeding those limits may face rejection, economic losses and disruptions to market access.

To support consistency in global trade, organizations such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission develop science-based international standards that serve as reference points for national regulatory systems.

The findings are based on data generated by the All India Network Project on Pesticide Residues (AINPPR), a major research initiative operating under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and headquartered at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in New Delhi.

The programme routinely collects and analyses agricultural commodity samples from across India and plays a significant role in monitoring pesticide residues in food, soil and water. It supports public health objectives while also helping maintain confidence in Indian agricultural products among domestic and international buyers.

According to CCFI, such monitoring efforts have contributed to strengthening India's agricultural export sector, which is currently valued at approximately US$51 billion. The country has also outlined an ambitious target of increasing agricultural exports to US$100 billion within the next two years.

The analysis covers residue monitoring data collected between 2015 and 2024 from a broad range of agricultural commodities.

Food grain samples included wheat, rice and pulses, while vegetable testing covered crops such as cabbage, okra and chillies. Fruit samples were drawn primarily from pomegranates, apples, mangoes and grapes. Additional categories included curry leaves, eggs, meat, fish, marine products, water, oilseeds, red chilli powder, spices and tea.

Milk samples recorded no pesticide residues above prescribed limits during the monitoring period.

In total, 209,899 samples were analysed over the nine-year period. Of these, 5,939 samples were found to contain pesticide residues above prescribed Maximum Residue Limits.

The data indicate that only 2.82% of samples exceeded prescribed limits, while 97.18% complied with established residue standards.

According to the report, this performance compares favourably with observations reported in developed markets such as the European Union, the United States and China, where exceedance rates are often reported in the range of 3% to 6%.

The annual findings show overall compliance levels consistently above 96%, despite India's diverse agricultural production systems and extensive range of food commodities.

While compliance levels remain high, the report highlights continuing concerns around differing residue standards across export markets.

Pesticide residues are traces of crop protection products present in or on agricultural commodities at the time of harvest. MRLs establish the maximum legally tolerated level of those residues and are generally expressed in parts per million (ppm). Although MRLs are primarily regulatory and trade standards, commodities that comply with India's national standards may still encounter challenges in export destinations that apply more restrictive default limits.

According to CCFI, the application of a default MRL of 0.01 ppm by some jurisdictions has emerged as a significant non-tariff barrier affecting agricultural exports. The federation argues that rejection of export consignments under such standards can have serious consequences for agricultural production, commodity prices and farmer incomes.

Indian exporters of spices, vegetables, grapes, chillies and basmati rice have expressed concerns regarding increasingly stringent residue requirements in certain markets. The report suggests that bilateral discussions may be necessary to address these challenges and ensure that residue regulations remain science-based and consistent with international trade principles.

For CCFI, the findings reinforce the importance of evidence-based discussions around pesticide residues and food safety.

"We as a responsible agrochemical federation firmly believe that food safety is essential to protect public health by preventing foodborne illnesses and diseases caused by harmful bacteria, parasites and chemical contaminants. It safeguards vulnerable populations, prevents costly economic losses and preserves consumer trust in the global food supply chain," said Mehta.

He added that proper handling, storage and food safety practices remain essential in protecting consumers while preserving the nutritional quality of food products.

"Our effort ensures protecting public health by proper handling, storage and cooking prevents food poisoning caused by pathogens like Salmonella, besides protecting vulnerable groups who are at greater risk. In commercial dealings, rejections can result in devastating product recalls, severe legal penalties and permanent business shutdown. Preserving nutritional value and ensuring the food retains its essential vitamins, minerals and caloric values are important. Our quality builds brand image and a positive market reputation."

Based on the analysis of more than 209,000 samples collected over nine years, the report concludes that Indian food grains, vegetables, fruits, milk and other agricultural commodities remain safe for human consumption and that strong compliance with pesticide residue limits continues to support both food safety objectives and international market access.

The Data Behind the Findings: Pesticide Residue Monitoring Results (2015-2024)

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