In the wake of complaints from some western countries about the content of pesticide level in Nepali tea, the latest report of the DFTQC has paved way for the export of Nepali tea in major markets in Europe and America.
"We found all samples of tea collected from Nepali tea gardens bellow 0.01 Part Per Million (PPM) or Below Detection Level (BDL) which is internationally acceptable.
It has cleared the deck for the export of Nepali tea to western countries without any obstacle," Pramod Koirala, under-secretary at the DOTQC told myrepublica.com on Sunday.
Koirala said a total of 18 samples from six VDCs of Jhapa,Ilam and Panchthar districts -- key tea producing districts -- were collected for the pesticide residue test.
"Quality of Nepali tea has been found to meet the standard set by importing countries," added Koirala.
The DFTQC had sent the samples to VIMTA lab of Hyderabad in India -- an internationally accredited lab -- for the test.
Due to the lack of sophisticated lab recognized by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO), food items requiring vigorous testing have to be sent to India from Nepal.
Codex Alimentarious Commission, a joint panel of FAO and WHO, has been settling any dispute over food quality in WTO member countries.
The tests were conducted on the sample for three pesticide groups--- Organochlorine, Organophosphorous, Synthetic Pyrethroids Pesticide Residues and Carbamates Pesticide Residues.
Koirala said BDL of 0.05 was found in Organochlorine, Organophosphorous, and Carbamates Pesticide Residues whereas BDL 0.01 was found in Synthetic Pyrethroids Pesticide Residues.
The tea samples selected for test were checked for contents of Cypermethrin, DDT, DDE, DDD, Melathion, Phosalone, Diacofol, Lindane, Permethrin, Cypermethrin, Fenvelerate, Deltamethrin, Oxamyl, Methomyl, Aldicarb, Carbofuran, Carbary and Methiocard.
After detection of pesticide in Nepali tea, Germany had issued a code of conduct in 2006 for tea farmers and tea processors to ensure that pesticide free tea would be exported. A total of 8600 tons of tea -- mainly orthodox tea -- was exported during the fiscal 2007/08. Besides India, the key importer, Nepali tea is being exported to the USA, Japan and some European countries.
Following complaints of pesticide contents in Nepali honey exported in the past to European countries, the DoFQC has also been testing Nepali honey for pesticide residue. "Preliminary report has shown negative result on the pesticide content in Nepali honey. Chinese contaminated honey may have been exported in the past through Nepal," said Koirala.
prabhakar@myrepublica.com
Related story
Lack of conservation area for rare tea plant
