The chai on your desk may soon come with a quieter promise. On Saturday, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) proposed maximum residue limits for two pesticides in tea, a move that affects nearly every Indian household, given how deeply tea is woven into daily life here.
The food safety regulator has notified draft amendments that propose limits for Acetamiprid and Imidacloprid, two commonly used pesticides. The proposal is part of the draft Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2026, the Health Ministry said in an official statement.
What the new limits are
Under the draft, tea would be allowed to carry no more than 20 mg/kg (20 ppm) of Acetamiprid and 50 mg/kg (50 ppm) of Imidacloprid. These are maximum residue limits, or MRLs, the highest concentration of a pesticide legally permitted to remain on a food product when it reaches consumers.
FSSAI said the proposed limits were framed considering the requirement of crop protection while safeguarding consumer interest. The regulator described the draft as part of its ongoing effort to promote science-based food safety regulation and consumer protection.
Why this matters for your daily cup
India is among the largest producers and consumers of tea in the world, and the crop is vulnerable to a range of pests. Planters use pesticides to protect yields, but residues can survive processing and end up in the brewed cup. Setting clear, enforceable limits gives both growers and consumers a defined line.
- For drinkers: residue levels above the limits would make the tea non-compliant, and enforcement agencies could act against lots that breach them.
- For growers: the limits tell estates and small growers exactly how much residue is acceptable, so they can adjust spraying schedules and pre-harvest intervals.
- For exporters: India ships tea to dozens of countries, many of which already enforce strict residue norms. Aligned domestic limits make compliance simpler across markets.
How regulations like this take shape
This is still a draft amendment, not a final rule. The process typically goes through stakeholder consultation before FSSAI finalises the text. Planters’ associations, consumer groups, tea traders and testing laboratories are all likely to weigh in on whether the proposed numbers are practical on the ground.
The debate usually has two sides. Growers point out that tea is grown in humid, pest-prone regions like Assam and the Dooars, where crop protection chemicals are hard to avoid entirely. Consumer advocates counter that residues in a daily staple deserve the strictest possible scrutiny, since even small exposures add up over years.
A broader clean-up drive
The tea proposal fits into a wider pattern. Over the past couple of years, FSSAI has been tightening standards across categories, from limits on sugar in infant food to stricter labelling rules for packaged products. The direction is clear: India wants food standards that can stand comparison with the best in the world.
Whether the final limits land exactly at 20 and 50 ppm will depend on the feedback the draft draws. For now, the signal to the industry is unmistakable: the days of loose, ambiguous residue norms for tea are numbered.
FAQs
What has FSSAI proposed for tea?
FSSAI has proposed maximum residue limits of 20 mg/kg for Acetamiprid and 50 mg/kg for Imidacloprid in tea through draft amendments to the contaminants and residues regulations.
Are these limits in force now?
Not yet. The proposal is at the draft stage and will go through consultation before being finalised and enforced.
Why are pesticide limits needed in tea?
Pesticides used to protect tea crops can leave residues that survive into the brewed cup. Limits ensure those residues stay at levels considered safe for regular consumption.
How will the limits be enforced?
Once finalised, tea lots found to exceed the limits would be treated as non-compliant, with state food safety officers empowered to act against them.
Does this affect tea exports?
Clearer domestic limits help exporters meet the residue standards of importing countries more consistently.
Stay with Informeia for more on food safety rules and what they mean for your kitchen.
