LUDHIANA: The experts of department of entomology, Punjab
Agricultural University (PAU), on Friday revealed that all India
coordinated research project on pesticide residues had found
that 60 per cent of different food commodities were
contaminated. The study noted that 14 per cent of commodities
exceeded that maximum residue limit (MRL). As per a press note
issued here, MRL's have been prescribed for 71 pesticides out of
the 185 registered for use in the country by the Central
Committee for Food Standards. The prescription is covered under
Food Adulteration Act, 1954. It was said the commodities bearing
pesticide residues above the legally permitted levels could be
rejected by the importing countries, leading to considerable
financial losses. The experts also suggested the use of
insecticides as per recommendations of PAU and the state
agriculture department. The efficient spray technology and
economic threshold levels could help in reducing the pesticide
load vis-a-vis toxic residues, they said. The experts