CODEX STANDARDS AND FSSAI (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Agriculture)

Context: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has raised the maximum residue limit (MRL) for a pesticide in herbs and spices to 0.1mg/kg from the earlier 0.01mg/kg.

Codex

• About: It comprises globally acknowledged standards, codes of practice, guidelines, and other recommendations.
• Issued by: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning food, food production, food labeling, and food safety.
• Members: Currently the Codex Alimentarius Commission has 189 Codex Members made up of 188 Member Countries and 1 Member Organization (The European Union).

  Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) 

• Status: FSSAI is a statutory body established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
• Headquarters: New Delhi. 
• Regional office: The authority also has 6 regional offices located in Delhi, Guwahati, Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin, and Chennai.

Maximum Residue Limit

• About: It is the highest level of a pesticide residue that is legally tolerated in or on food or feed when pesticides are applied correctly in accordance with Good Agricultural Practice.
• Codex Standards: Codex establishes Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for residues in both food and animal feed.
• Global Guidelines These MRLs serve as international standards for residue levels in food products.