Panel formed to examine pesticide in fruits,vegetables

The Central and Delhi governments on Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court that they have formed an expert committee to periodically examine the fruits and vegetables available in the open market,to ascertain if they contain pesticide residue.

The Central and Delhi governments on Tuesday informed the Delhi High Court that they have formed an expert committee to periodically examine the fruits and vegetables available in the open market,to ascertain if they contain pesticide residue.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A S Chandhiok and Meera Bhatia told a bench headed by Justice S K Kaul that the Union Agriculture Ministry had on February 14 convened a meeting with senior officials of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Delhi governments Health Ministry on the issue.

A six-member committee,headed by the joint director of the Agriculture Ministry,was constituted for framing a policy for periodic checks to detect pesticide residue in vegetables and fruits, the affidavit submitted by the government stated.

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Besides chairperson Sarita Bhalla,the committee comprises FSSAI director Dhir Singh,scientist N K Sharma,Delhi governments Food Analyst S M Bhardwaj,Union Agriculture Ministry official Vipin Bhatnagar and senior advocate V K Rao.

After perusing the affidavit,the bench suggested to the government to include a non-government expert in the committee as well,and posted the matter for further hearing on March 27.

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