Assam is the major tea producing state. The Governor of Assam is of the opinion that the sale, stock, distribution and use of all formulations of Acetamiprid, Cypermethrin, Acephate, Imidachloprid, Dinotefuran and Fipronil insecticides/pesticides are not in the interest of the tea growers and tea industry.
It is stated in the government order that these prohibitions are made due to following reasons
These chemicals provide a danger of containing more pesticide residues in tea than the Maximum Residual Level (MRL) set by the relevant authority and the aforementioned pesticides and insecticides are not on the list of plant protection formulations permitted for use in tea by the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC).
Additionally, the Tea Board of India’s Plant Protection Code (Feb 2024, version 16.0) does not contain any mention of these pesticides or insecticides.
There have been allegations of the aforementioned pesticides and insecticides being applied indiscriminately on tea plantations, which has negatively impacted the tea business by causing noncompliance with FSSAI regulations.
Effect of pesticides and insecticides in Tea Crop
Imidacloprid, Dinotefuran, Acetamiprid: These compounds act on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the nervous system of insects, causing overstimulation and eventual paralysis and death.
Cypermethrin: Interferes with sodium channels in the nervous system of insects, leading to paralysis and death.
Acephate: Inhibits acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme essential for nerve function in insects, leading to overstimulation and death.
Fipronil: Disrupts the normal function of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, leading to uncontrolled neural activity and death in insects.
The pesticides and insecticides approved by the Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee (CIB&RC) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India, are available to control pests in tea.
Whereas, in view of the above, it is imperative to prohibit the sale, stock, distribution and use of the insecticides /pesticides given below, on Tea crop in the State of Assam, being potential constraint in consumption and export of Tea.
And for the reasons recorded above, it is deemed exigent, expedient and necessary to prohibit the sale, stock, distribution and/or use of the above mentioned six insecticides/pesticides in Tea Crops in the State of Assam.
Therefore, using the authority granted by Subsection (1) of Section 27 of the Insecticide Act of 1968 as well as any further authority that may be available to him in this regard.
The Governor of Assam thus forbids the use, distribution, sale, and/or stock of any combinations of Imidachloprid Dinotefuran, Acetamiprid, Cypermethrin, and Acephate and the Fipronil insecticide/pesticides, or any combination of them, in the tea industry, plantations, and tea crops in the State of Assam.
This is done for a period of sixty days following the date this notification was published in the Assam Government Gazette aim order to produce high-quality tea with no aftereffects.
Date : 15 to 19 July 2024
Time : 07 PM to 10 PM
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