# FSSAI proposes science-based pesticide residue limits for tea

2026-10-17T17:46:56+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) for two pesticides in tea: 20 mg/kg for Acetamiprid and 50 mg/kg for Imidacloprid, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Saturday, 17 October 2026. The draft Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on 16 October, set the proposed limits to provide clear regulatory benchmarks for pesticide residues, facilitating compliance and monitoring. The ministry noted that the proposed limit for Acetamiprid is lower than the limits in Japan (30 ppm) and the US (50 ppm), and that the Imidacloprid limit follows international Codex standards. India's average pesticide use is less than 0.5 kg per hectare, below the global average of 2.38 kg per hectare. The draft regulations are subject to finalisation after the regulatory process.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

All three outlets report the same facts from the health ministry statement, producing uniform straight coverage. The Hans India leads with the science-based framing and international comparison, Economic Times adds a consumer-facing headline and notes the draft is yet to be finalised, and Business Line stresses the balance between consumer protection and crop protection. None of the sources includes opposition or industry reaction, leaving the regulatory process as the only concrete next step. The proposed limits remain subject to finalisation.

## Coverage

Coverage: 3 sources, 3 neutral
- thehansindia.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehansindia.com/business/fssai-proposes-science-based-pesticide-residue-limits-for-tea-1133286>
  Wire-service style, leads with official statement and frames proposal as science-based.
- economictimes.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/cons-products/food/your-daily-chai-under-the-scanner-fssai-proposes-new-science-based-limits-for-two-pesticide-residues-in-tea-what-consumers-should-know/articleshow/135015676.cms>
  Straight reporting, leads with consumer angle and adds context on wider review.
- thehindubusinessline.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/fssai-proposes-new-pesticide-residue-limits-for-tea-to-protect-consumers/article71597565.ece>
  Balanced report, leads with consumer protection and includes ministry quotes.

This brief was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry.

Tags: FSSAI, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
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How this brief was made: an AI model read the reports linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. Stance labels are editorial classifications of how each outlet framed this story, assigned by the same model, not ratings of the outlets. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/