European Commission Brings Ethylene Oxide under Pesticide Residue Classification

The European Commission’s (EC) rapid alert system for food and feed notified the Indian exporting fraternity that unauthorized pesticide residue ethylene oxide had been found in salsa dips. In this article, know more about this development and how the EC classifies ethylene oxide. This topic is relevant for the IAS exam economy segment.

EU Classification of Ethylene Oxide

• Ethylene oxide is not allowed to be used to disinfect food, according to the European Commission.
• The EC then stated that, regardless of where the food was produced, the presence of ethylene oxide in food additives is prohibited.
• The EU countries changed their zero-tolerance approach for the chemical’s presence in goods to one that is more specialized. 
• As a result, the EU Commission tightened governmental controls for some imported commodities.
• The EC reclassified ethylene oxide, which was formerly categorised as a “fumigant,” as a “pesticide residue.” 
• Ethylene oxide is categorised by the European Commission as being harmful to the reproductive system, mutagenic, and carcinogenic. 
• The EC imposed a limit on the chemical’s presence in 2003 based on the suggestions of the Scientific Committee on Food Safety.
• European members will be required to gather and analyse food samples for the chemical from 2023 to 2026. 
• EU member states will be expected to provide sampling information for this testing on an annual basis.

What are the Concerns for India?

• Reduced Exports: Ethylene oxide has been discovered to be present in some Indian spices. Concerning the presence of ethylene oxide in a variety of items, the  European Commission(EC) issued warnings and halted exports. Due to the presence of ethylene oxide, the export of sesame from India was stopped in European ports.  
• Mandatory Testing: Agricultural products that are exported to the European Union will now need to be tested since ethylene oxide is officially recognised as a pesticide residue.
• NO ETO Standards in India: Standards for residues in food items must be established in India by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). However, there are no standards for ETO.  
• Impact on Organic Food: The lack of ETO regulations does not imply that organic foods sold in India are dangerous. 
• Increased Health Risk: Long-term consumption of foods contaminated with ETO increases the risk to one’s health. ETO residues present a chronic risk to health as opposed to an immediate danger.

Way Forward: 

• Standards must be set by Indian regulatory organisations for chemicals used in any aspect of the food system. This will guarantee that food chemicals meet all applicable international regulations.
• The federal and state governments support natural and organic farming. However, taking steps to solve the problems and alter the nation’s general organic certification procedure can lead to improvements over time.

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