Latest news with #Chlorpyrifos
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
‘Pesticide in biscuit sample': Karnataka HC quashes criminal proceedings against Hindustan Unilever CEO
The Karnataka High Court has quashed criminal proceedings lodged against Hindustan Unilever CEO and managing director Rohit Jawa after a biscuit sample was allegedly found to contain pesticide. The order, passed on July 3 by a bench consisting of Justice J M Khazi, was made publicly available recently. The court said, '…in the present case, the company is not arraigned as an accused, and therefore the petitioner, who is the sole accused, cannot be proceeded against.' It, however, stated that a fresh complaint could be filed by implicating the company too, as the initial complaint did not name it. The grievance in this regard was filed by a food safety officer in 2023, under provisions of the Food and Safety Standards Act, based on the discovery that a sample of Horlicks biscuits from a supermarket in Bengaluru contained the pesticide Chlorpyrifos beyond the safe limits. In India, Horlicks is owned by Unilever. Jawa's counsel argued that the tests prescribed under the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations were not applicable to finished products such as biscuits. It was also pointed out that the company (Hindustan Unilever) was not named in the case, and as per the law, the CEO was not the manufacturer. Hence, the trial judge should not have taken cognizance of the matter. On the other hand, the opposing government counsel argued that the MD was responsible for the company's business. He added that in the event that the proceedings are quashed because the company was not named as an accused in the complaint, liberty ought to be granted to file a fresh petition and implead the company. Allowing the petitioner to do so, the high court subsequently stated, '…the criminal proceedings against the accused are liable to be quashed…the complainant is at liberty to file a fresh complaint by implicating the company also, and thereafter proceed further.'
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Karnataka HC quashes criminal proceedings against HUL CEO Rohit Jawa
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Karnataka High Court has quashed the criminal proceedings against Hindustan Unilever Limited HUL ) managing director & CEO Rohit Jawa in a case of food contamination under the Food Safety and Standards Act Judge JM Khazi, by a July 3 order, however, has allowed liberty to the food safety officer at the Bengaluru civic body BBMP to file a fresh complaint against the HUL CEO Jawa and arraign his company as an additional accused.A food safety officer had collected samples of Horlicks biscuits from a supermarket in Hebbal and filed a criminal case naming the HUL CEO saying the biscuit sample was found to be unsafe for human consumption as it contained pesticide Chlorpyrifos beyond the specified trial court had in June 2023 taken cognizance and issued summons to Jawa. The Judge expressed surprise that the authorities sought to proceed against individuals, and not the moved the high court challenging the criminal proceedings imitated against him at the trial court by taking cognizance for the offences punishable under the food safety act. The Judge held that in the absence of the company, the managing director cannot be proceeded against.
Express Tribune
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Senate body reviews reforms to boost agricultural exports
Listen to article The Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, led by Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan, visited the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) head office to review key interventions made for improving sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) compliance and curbing maximum residue limit (MRL) violations in agricultural exports, particularly rice. The visit comes as recent reforms, spurred by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, have already led to a marked decline in export interceptions and noticeable improvements in compliance standards. The committee was briefed in detail by senior DPP officials, including Tahir Abbas (Director General), Muhammad Ishfaque (Deputy Director Quarantine) and Muhammad Basit (Director Quarantine), on the measures taken to align Pakistan's export framework with international food safety and plant protection standards. The committee noted the significant strides made in improving compliance, especially in light of the prime minister's directives issued in December 2024, which called for legal action against negligent officers and the immediate establishment of pesticide residue testing laboratories. These directives have shown concrete results. In 2023, Pakistan faced 61 interceptions of rice consignments by the European Union due to higher MRL and aflatoxins. The number rose to 106 in 2024, with 73 linked directly to pesticide residues. However, following reforms, the year 2025 has seen a notable decline, with only 30 interceptions recorded so far – just 13 related to MRL and 15 to aflatoxins. This decline is attributed to intensified monitoring, awareness campaigns for exporters and closer coordination between the DPP, provincial departments and industry stakeholders. Notably, pesticides such as Acetamiprid, Chlorpyrifos, Imidacloprid and Thiamethoxam were identified as primary contributors to MRL breaches. The committee also discussed progress in the maize sector. Maize is Pakistan's third major food grain, with annual production of 10.634 million tonnes over 1.72 million hectares. In 2023-24, exports peaked at 1.837 million tonnes but declined sharply in 2024-25 to just over 786,000 tonnes. While high domestic prices contributed to this drop, phytosanitary interceptions by Vietnam due to Khapra Beetle infestation also played a role. Following Vietnam's third warning and 72 reported interceptions, the DPP imposed a temporary two-week export ban and suspended responsible fumigators. Corrective actions such as the registration of 63 compliant storage godowns, traceability protocols and pest-specific fumigation SOPs were implemented. Additional efforts included stakeholder meetings, strict inspection regimes and firm control over the use of jute bags — a major source of infestation. The committee turned its attention to mango exports, with special emphasis on high-end markets such as Japan, Korea and the US, which have strict protocols including hot water treatment (HWT) and vapour heat treatment, among others. While the DPP has developed SOPs and installed CCTV surveillance systems for monitoring HWT facilities, the chairman raised concerns over operational irregularities.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Black bug outbreak threatens sugarcane in UP; advisory issued
Bijnor: A severe outbreak of the black bug—locally known as kala chikta—has been reported in sugarcane fields across several parts of Uttar Pradesh, prompting the Sugar Department to issue an urgent advisory to farmers. The pest, which thrives in hot and dry conditions, typically attacks ratoon (regrown) sugarcane between April and June, stunting growth by sucking sap from the leaves. Infestation has also been accompanied by the pyrilla pest in some areas. Based on field inspections, scientists have advised farmers to irrigate their fields and destroy leftover stubble after harvest to curb the spread. In heavily infested fields, chemical pesticides such as Profenofos, Imidacloprid, Cypermethrin, Chlorpyrifos and Monocrotophos 36% SL have been recommended. Officials said that if pyrilla is more dominant and bio-parasites are present, chemical treatment may not be necessary. However, in cases of heavy black bug infestation—since there are no known parasites for black bugs—chemical control becomes essential. State president of Bharatiya Kisan Union Arajnaitik's youth wing, Digambar Singh, said, "Black bugs and pyrilla have affected large areas of sugarcane. Farmers are suffering massive losses. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Aged 50-85 With No Life Insurance Could Get This Reassured Get Quote Undo Sugar mills should provide subsidised pesticides to help them." Saharanpur's deputy cane commissioner OP Singh said, "Black bugs usually appear from April to June when the weather is hot and dry. Affected leaves turn yellow with brown spots, and larvae are often found between leaf curls and cane balls. Both adults and larvae suck the juice from the leaves, halting crop growth. In severe cases, holes form in the leaves." Notably, sugarcane is grown on 29 lakh hectares in the state, with more than 50 lakh farmers dependent on the crop.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Global agreement reached to eliminate hazardous pesticide chlorpyrifos with exemptions for India and other countries
. NEW DELHI: In a significant decision, countries across the globe on Saturday struck a major deal to eliminate the use of one of the most hazardous pesticides , Chlorpyrifos, with certain exemptions, under the Stockholm Convention at the ongoing meet in Geneva. India, which opposed its complete elimination at this stage, will continue to use it for another five years as per its registered uses for 12 crops, including rice, wheat, gram, sugarcane, beans, cotton, mustard, brinjal, onion, apple, barley, and groundnut, to deal with certain pests and termites. Over 40 countries, including all 27 European Union (EU) nations, the UK, and the US, have already banned the use of Chlorpyrifos on food crops. India, during the negotiation, pitched for exemptions, arguing the need for its use in certain crops in the absence of alternatives. The country, along with other nations, including Russia, Kenya, Zambia, and Costa Rica, also favoured exemptions for ensuring food security . Though India and many countries will continue to use it for select exempted purposes in the cultivation of certain crops while dealing with pests, the decision will ultimately push the users to look for alternatives in the final goal of complete elimination of the use of Chlorpyrifos, a highly toxic organophosphate pesticide with harmful effects on health and the environment. The decision was taken at the ongoing Conference of the Parties (COPs) to the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm (BRS) Convention in Geneva, being held to galvanise global efforts to manage hazardous chemicals and waste in an environmentally sound manner. Experts who have been tracking the development at the Convention welcome the listing of Chlorpyrifos in Annex A (meant for elimination) of the Convention but expressed their concerns at the long list of exemptions. 'The world can no longer turn a blind eye to the overwhelming scientific evidence on Chlorpyrifos. Its global elimination is a critical step toward safeguarding public health, environmental integrity, and the rights of future generations,' said Dileep Kumar of the Pesticide Action Network (PAN) India. "We support a broad spectrum evaluation and speeding up the separation of highly hazardous chemicals for elimination. The survival of life, including biodiversity, is at stake. Also, national govts have to take up their own independent physico-chemical and ecotoxicological evaluation to propose such chemicals for elimination,' said Narasimha Reddy Donthi, a public policy expert. The specific exemptions allowed under the decision include 18 crop-pest complexes (rice, maize, wheat, sugarcane, onion, peanut, barley, cabbage, chickpea, cotton, pineapple, and rapeseed, among others); control of leaf-cutting ants for agricultural use; control of locusts; control of ticks in cattle; and wood preservation against borers and termites in building foundations.
