Your daily chai could be at risk: New 'pesticide limits' spark concerns over what’s actually in your cup.

FSSAI has proposed maximum residue limits for two pesticides in tea under draft regulations published on October 16. The proposal sets a limit of 20 ppm for acetamiprid and 50 ppm for imidacloprid, aiming to strengthen food safety monitoring and provide clear compliance standards. The draft regulations are yet to be finalised.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed maximum residue limits (MRLs) for two pesticides, acetamiprid and imidacloprid, in tea as part of its efforts to strengthen food safety regulations and consumer protection. The draft Food Safety and Standards Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on October 16, proposes a maximum residue limit of 20 mg/kg (20 parts per million or ppm) for acetamiprid and 50 mg/kg (50 ppm) for imidacloprid in tea, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The proposed limits are intended to establish clear regulatory benchmarks for pesticide residues in tea and facilitate monitoring, compliance and enforcement. The standards are yet to be finalised.