Pesticide regulation policy and global food safety for Indian spices

Though the pesticide industry in India is highly regulated, there are several lacunae regarding the registration and availability of plant protection products (PPPs) for commercial agriculture. In case of spice crops in India, the limited number of both registered pesticides and the absence of maximum residue limits (MRL) for several pesticides have implications for the domestic and international trade of spices. As the world's leading producer and exporter of spices, radical policy interventions and other prudent strategies are required to address the problems faced by the stakeholders in the spice industry.

Automated summary

While the pesticide industry in India is regulated, there are gaps in the registration and availability of plant protection products (PPPs), especially for spice crops. The limited number of registered pesticides and the absence of maximum residue limits (MRL) for several pesticides affect both domestic and international trade of spices. Policy interventions and strategies are needed to address the challenges faced by stakeholders in the spice industry, as India is the world's leading producer and exporter of spices.