The Supreme Court issued a notice to the government concerning the excessive use of pesticides in agriculture. This move comes in response to growing concerns about the environmental and health impacts of pesticide overuse. The court seeks detailed information on current regulations and their enforcement. The government’s response will be crucial in shaping future policies to address these issues.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court taken up a significant issue regarding the overuse of pesticides and chemicals in food production. In a recent hearing, the court sought responses from the Centre, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), and other relevant parties, on a plea claiming that the excessive use of these substances is resulting in numerous deaths across the country.
The plea, filed by advocate Akash Vashisht, presents data collected from various parts of the country, indicating a high number of fatalities due to pesticide exposure. Senior advocate Anitha Shenoy, representing the petitioner, brought this concerning information to the court’s attention.
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The key issue highlighted in the plea, the widespread use and overuse of pesticides, insecticides, weedicides, fungicides, rodenticides, herbicides, and other inorganic chemical substances on food crops and items. The petition claims that this practice emerged as the primary and predominant cause of cancers and other fatal ailments among the population.
The Supreme Court‘s decision to seek responses from the government and relevant authorities highlights the seriousness of this matter. The court’s involvement could lead to a thorough investigation and the implementation of necessary measures to address the risks posed by the excessive use of these chemicals in the food production system.
This case raised important questions about food safety, public health, and the environmental impact of modern agricultural practices. The outcome of this proceeding could have far reaching implications for the regulation of pesticides and the adoption of more sustainable farming methods to ensure the health and well being of the citizens.
The plea stated,
“The use and overuse of pesticides, essentially inorganic substances, constitutes food pollution. Similar to air pollution, the contamination of food and crops acts as a silent killer. Pesticide contamination spreads rapidly through the food chain via bio-accumulation and bio-magnification. Once these toxic elements and compounds enter the human body, they cannot be expelled or eliminated.”
The plea filed by advocate Akash Vashisht presents alarming data from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding the adulteration and misbranding of food samples in recent years.
According to the FSSAI data cited in the plea, during the 2015-16 period, out of 72,499 food samples analyzed, 16,133 found to be adulterated or misbranded. This led to the filing of 1,450 criminal and 8,529 civil cases, resulting in 540 convictions.
The situation worsened in the following year, 2016-17, when 18,325 out of 78,340 samples were found to be adulterated or misbranded. This prompted the authorities to file a total of 13,080 cases, leading to 1,605 convictions.
Despite the scale and seriousness of this issue, as highlighted by the data, the plea argues that the central government and its agencies have failed to effectively prevent, control, and abate the rising incidence of pesticide overuse.
Furthermore, the petition cites data from the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine & Storage, which indicates that in the 2020-21 period, as many as 161 people lost their lives due to pesticide poisoning across three states , Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Goa. This figure based on reports from only eight states, suggesting that the actual toll could be much higher across the country.
The detailed data and statistics presented in the plea highlights the urgent need for the government and regulatory authorities to address the concerns raised and implement robust measures to ensure the safety of the food supply and the protection of public health.
The plea called,
“New directives to overhaul the current regulations governing the application and excessive use of pesticides and various inorganic chemical substances, such as insecticides, weedicides, fungicides, rodenticides, herbicides, and other similar chemicals, on food crops and food products.”