Pest management in agriculture
Note
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is India's official policy framework under the Insecticides Act 1968, implemented through Central Integrated Pest Management Centres (CIPMCs) under DPPQ&S. It covers biological control agents, biopesticides, and the shift away from chemical pesticides under schemes like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana. IPM balances crop-yield protection with environmental safety, farmer health, and export compliance with Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) demanded by importing countries.
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Questions on this topic
Consider the following pairs relating to pesticide residue regulation and food safety standard-setting in India and internationally:
- FSS (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations — Statutory instrument under which Maximum Residue Limits for pesticides in food commodities are notified in India
- Codex Alimentarius Commission — International food safety standard-setting body established jointly under the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization
- Insecticides Act, 1968 — The legislation under which Maximum Residue Limits for pesticide residues in food commodities are fixed in India
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Explanation
Pair 1 is correctly matched: FSSAI notifies Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides in food through the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, which are framed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Pair 2 is correctly matched: the Codex Alimentarius Commission is an inter-governmental body established jointly by the FAO and the WHO to develop harmonised international food standards, including MRLs for pesticide residues, which countries use as reference benchmarks. Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: the Insecticides Act, 1968 governs the manufacture, sale, transport, distribution, and use of insecticides (i.e., pesticide registration and licensing) in India, but it does NOT set MRLs for pesticide residues in food commodities. That function falls under FSSAI via the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. This is a commonly confused distinction — pesticide regulation (Insecticides Act) and food-safety residue limits (FSS Act/FSSAI) are separate statutory frameworks with different regulators.
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