PESTICIDES IN TEA

May 2003

Recent media reports have referred to low level pesticide residues found in imported tea .

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has examined a summary of the se test results. In all cases, dietary exposure is well below the relevant health standards, known as the Acceptable Daily Intakes (ADI). ADIs have inherent safety factors, normally at least 100, which give an additional margin of confidence.

FSANZ therefore does not believe that these low-level residues are significant with respect to public health and safety and all of the tea products tested are safe to consume.   Indeed, the dietary exposure assessments undertaken by FSANZ were very conservative as it was assumed that all the tea consumed contained pesticide residues at the highest level.  

The test data relate to dried tea leaves and this is not something that is usually consumed. The brewed tea, which is consumed, would contain much lower levels than the tea leaves. This is because not all of the residue would transfer into the infusion, there is a significant dilution with the water and there may also be further chemical losses when boiling water is added to the leaves. Past Australian Total Diet Surveys, which survey residues in the food consumed, have not detected any pesticide residues in brewed tea.

FSANZ has noted that a number of the residues found are for pesticides for which there are no tea MRLs in the Food Standards Code. This is not surprising because the MRLs in the Food Standards Code reflect domestic use of chemical products and yet most tea is imported. However, the residues are in breach of food legislation and may therefore be the subject of enforcement action.

Given the minimal public health significance of the residues, FSANZ has contacted the industry and suggested they should make an application to FSANZ to include the relevant MRLs in the Food Standards Code. This process would allow FSANZ to conduct a detailed assessment and also allow public consultation on any proposed amendments to the Food Standards Code on pesticide residues in imported tea.  

For more information see the fact sheet on ‘ Limiting chemical residues in food

-  the role of Maximum Residue Limits’ at

http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/mediareleasespublications/factsheets/factsheets2002/limitingchemicalresi1424