Pesticide Residue Testing in Food India | FSSAI Compliance | NABL

Auriga Research operates a NABL-accredited pesticide residue testing laboratory equipped with GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS for multi-residue screening of over 400 pesticides in food commodities. Pesticide residue compliance is mandatory under FSSAI regulations and is a critical requirement for food exports to the EU, USA, Japan, and other regulated markets.

Our testing covers organochlorines, organophosphates, synthetic pyrethroids, carbamates, neonicotinoids, triazole fungicides, and herbicide residues. The QuEChERS extraction protocol ensures reliable recovery across diverse food matrices including fresh produce, cereals, pulses, spices, tea, coffee, and processed foods.

India's agricultural exports face increasing rejection rates at international borders due to pesticide residue violations. Proactive testing against destination-country MRLs prevents costly shipment rejections and protects brand reputation in international markets.

Testing Capabilities

Multi-residue screening — 400+ pesticides by GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS
Organochlorine pesticides (DDT, endosulfan, HCH, aldrin, dieldrin)
Organophosphates (chlorpyrifos, malathion, monocrotophos, profenofos)
Neonicotinoids (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid)
Pyrethroids (cypermethrin, deltamethrin, lambda-cyhalothrin)
Herbicides (glyphosate, paraquat, atrazine)
FSSAI MRL compliance verification
EU MRL compliance for export commodities
Japan Positive List system compliance
Codex Alimentarius MRL benchmarking

Turnaround Time

Multi-residue screening takes 7-10 business days. Targeted single-residue analysis takes 5-7 business days. Export testing with certificates takes 10-12 business days.

Related Services

Frequently Asked Questions

How many pesticide residues can be detected in a single test?

Our multi-residue screening covers over 400 pesticide compounds in a single analytical run using GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS. This includes organochlorines, organophosphates, pyrethroids, carbamates, neonicotinoids, triazoles, and strobilurins. The method follows the QuEChERS extraction protocol per EN 15662, validated for a wide range of food matrices including fruits, vegetables, cereals, spices, and tea.

What are FSSAI maximum residue limits for pesticides?

FSSAI specifies Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) under the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations. MRLs vary by pesticide-commodity combination. For example, chlorpyrifos MRL in rice is 0.1 mg/kg while in apple it is 0.5 mg/kg. For pesticide-commodity combinations not specifically listed, FSSAI references Codex Alimentarius MRLs. Products exceeding MRLs are considered non-compliant and subject to recall.

What is the turnaround time for pesticide residue testing?

Standard multi-residue pesticide screening takes 7-10 business days. Single-residue targeted analysis takes 5-7 business days. Export-oriented testing with certificates takes 10-12 business days. Rush services with 3-5 day turnaround are available for time-sensitive shipments.