Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) of pesticides in tea

1. Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) of pesticides in tea Tissa Amarakoon Biochemistry Division Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka

2. What are MRLs? • Pest attacks on crops • Difficult to control in monocultures in large extent of land • One option – use of synthetic pesticides • Trace amounts remain on the end product (residues)

3. Contd… What are MRLs? • Beyond certain limits harmful to humans • Therefore, Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) are given by FAO/WHO and individual countries • Different pesticides have different toxicological effects, hence different MRLs.

4. Is tea a safe product? • Does the trace amounts of residues in tea under normal growing conditions pose a threat to the consumers? • No. • Tea is not only a safe product but also promotes health.

5. Why is MRL a issue in tea? • Tea producing countries experience difficulties when exporting tea to certain countries because of the current MRLs for tea. • Tea is grown in vastly different agro-climatic regions of the world. • Large number of different types of pests attack tea

6. Contd… Why is MRL a issue in tea? • A particular pesticide used successfully against a pest in one country/region is not effective against the same pest in another country/region • A vast array of pesticides are required to control pests in tea grown around the world • Therefore, it is not easy to draw up a simple list of pesticides for tea.

7. Contd… Why is MRL a issue in tea? • Although essential, use of large number of pesticides has created a problem; • As most tea importing countries have not stipulated MRLs for all pesticides used in tea. • “Positive list” for different products. • If a particular pesticide is not in the list, Limit of Detection (LOD) becomes the effective MRL. • Random monitoring

8. Contd… Why is MRL a issue in tea? • This is the most common issue when exporting tea. • A safe product grown under GAP cannot be exported to certain countries. • In other cases either; i) Method of pest control changed ii) MRLs changed

9. How to address the issue • Participation of all parties (producers, consumers, traders, pesticide manufacturers) and especially understanding the issues on other sides.

10. What the producer countries could do • Aim to use the minimum number of pesticides in minimum quantities.

11. Contd… What the producer countries could do • Integrated Pest management (IPM) i) Manage the pest below the economic damage level. ii) Use cultural and biological methods in control. iii) Use pesticides as a last resort (However, it is an essential part of IPM).

12. Contd… What the producer countries could do • Most tea growing countries are doing to satisfactory level. • Sri Lanka had introduced biological control of tea tortrix as far back as 1935. Which is one of the success stories in biological control

13. Contd… What the producer countries could do • Choosing the pesticides • Sri Lanka does not produce pesticides and importation of most pesticides with problems are banned (www.agridept.gov.lk)

14. Contd… What the producer countries could do • Choosing the pesticides i) Effectiveness against the pest under local conditions. eg. ii) Toxicity of the pesticide iii) Effect on the environment and non target organisms. eg. iv) Residue levels under GAP v) Cost effectiveness.

15. Contd… What the producer countries could do • Regular revision • New developments in environmentally friendly methods • New pesticides, Higher efficacy, less toxic, environmentally friendly • Magnitude of the improvement • Cost

16. Contd… What the producer countries could do • Using the pesticide in the field i) Correct timing ii) Pre Harvest Interval (PHI) • Awareness programmes to educate the person actually doing the job.

17. Contd… What the producer countries could do • Strengthening the analytical and monitoring capabilities. • In Sri Lanka; Analytical laboratory dedicated to tea only. • Field trials under GAP for all the pesticides used.

18. What the consumer countries do • Move away from the “list of pesticides” which were built on the knowledge based on other crops. • Acceptable daily intake (ADI) • Intake from tea is < 1%, (~10g consumed, Extraction into brew very low)

19. Contd… What the consumer countries do • Look at the “pest” and what is needed for the “effective control” of the pest. (not forgetting the fact that control methods should be acceptable to consumer countries) • It is very clear that some of the MRLs need revision.

20. A concerted effort by producer/consumer • Establishing strong links between relevant organizations in producer and consumer countries. • Awareness; i) Understanding the pest control issues in producer countries – Rational pest control, safe produce ii) Understanding legal requirements in consumer countries and also consumer perceptions. Level of safety

21. Contd… A concerted effort by producer/consumer • Changes; i) In pest control methods ii) Legal requirements. (Tea traders, Association – more active role) • Already FAO Inter Governmental Group (IGG) is working. (Others could join this effort)

22. Sustainability • The tea drinker world over to choose the cup of his choice; • While the grower will be provided with a secure livelihood.

23. Thank you