Delhi High Court Demands Action on Pesticide Use in Vegetable Farming, Seeks Affidavit from Food and Supplies Commissioner

The High Court has strongly criticized the use of pesticides in vegetable farming within the capital, emphasizing the inadequacy of food safety measures. Acting Chief Justice Manmohan Singh and Justice Manmeet Pritam Arora’s bench expressed concern over the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for its insufficient sampling and testing of food products.

During a hearing of a suo motu case initiated in 2010, prompted by media reports highlighting health risks associated with pesticide-laden vegetables, the bench directed the Food and Supplies Commissioner to provide detailed information on the inspection of food products, the number of inspectors and inspection teams, and the budget allocated for sampling. Moreover, the FSSAI was instructed to appear via video conferencing for the next hearing on August 7.

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The bench rebuked FSSAI’s counsel, expressing disbelief over the lack of clarity regarding the safety of consumed food products. They stressed the responsibility of FSSAI as the apex body to ensure rigorous scrutiny of food items, emphasizing the need for proactive monitoring and supervision. Additionally, they questioned the adequacy of sampling rates, highlighting the current rate of 25 samples per month in Delhi as grossly insufficient given the city’s population and daily food consumption.

The court urged FSSAI to enhance its monitoring efforts and increase the number of samples tested, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding public health against potentially harmful food practices.