In a significant move to monitor the use of agrochemicals in the tea industry, the West Bengal government has directed all insecticide manufacturers and distributors supplying pesticides to tea gardens in the state to submit a list of the tea growers they supply to.
The government has emphasized that this instruction is “extremely important and urgent” and must be followed by all licensed pesticide manufacturers and distributors.
Last year, the West Bengal Labour Department issued a notification banning the sale of tea containing pesticides that have been prohibited by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
The Tea Research Association (TRA), India’s oldest and leading tea research body, has welcomed this step. It praised the formation of state and district-level task forces to monitor the use of restricted chemicals like Monocrotophos, Acephate, Fipronil, Dinotefuran, and others, calling it an important move toward ensuring safe agrochemical practices in the tea sector.
“These chemicals are known to pose serious health and environmental risks and must be completely eliminated from tea farming,” said Joydeep Phukan, Secretary of TRA, in a letter to Manoj Pant, Chief Secretary of West Bengal, dated April 21.
Phukan also highlighted how climate change is worsening pest problems in tea plantations. Rising temperatures and long dry spells have created ideal conditions for pests and diseases to thrive. While pest issues existed before, their severity has increased significantly in recent years. Key pests affecting tea include the Tea Mosquito Bug, Looper Caterpillar, Green Fly, and Thrips.
According to Tea Board India, tea production between January and July 2024 dropped by 13.44% compared to the previous year. The decline was largely due to climate-related challenges, a limited range of approved pest control solutions, and delays in setting maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides.
In early 2024, major pest outbreaks were reported in the North Bengal tea-growing region. Also Read | Tea farming and its economics – The impact of global demand on local growers.
Phukan pointed out that several new agrochemicals available in the market do not yet have official approval for use in tea but are currently undergoing trials and scientific evaluation by the TRA. These include substances like Acetamiprid and Imidacloprid, which have shown good results. TRA is preparing data on these for submission to the Central Insecticides Board Registration Committee (CIBRC).
Other new-generation pesticides such as Chlorfenapyr, Tolfenpyrad, and Solomon are also under study. TRA has requested the Tea Board to seek temporary approval for Chlorfenapyr, especially for export shipments to the European Union, where neonicotinoid pesticides are currently restricted.
TRA has urged the West Bengal government to avoid penalizing plantations for using chemicals that are still under trial or scientific review and not yet classified as banned or approved.
Phukan concluded, “Taking a balanced approach will protect the health of tea plantations while allowing time for proper scientific evaluation. It will ensure that regulatory actions are informed and responsible.”
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