Agro-Industry Minister reiterates call for judicious use of pesticides on fruits and vegetables

The Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Dr Arvin Boolell, reiterated his plea for local planters to use pesticides responsibly and judiciously, while urging importers of agricultural produce to comply with sanitary and phytosanitary standards.

The Minister was speaking at a press conference held, this morning, in Port Louis, in the presence of the Junior Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Mr Gilles Fabrice David; the Senior Chief Executive of the Ministry, Mrs Kantabye Babajee; and representatives of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Pesticides Regulatory Office, the Food and Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (FAREI), the Small Planters Welfare Fund, and other relevant institutions.

The Minister recalled that a clear roadmap had been established following an Inter-Ministerial Committee meeting held on 5 October 2026, which he co-chaired with the Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr Anil Kumar Bachoo. The Committee examined the abusive use of pesticide in the food crop cultivation sector and its likely impact on the health of the citizens.

According to Dr Boolell, several initiatives were underway to ensure food safety and protect public health, stressing the responsibility of planters to use only registered pesticide products recommended for specific crops and to comply strictly with prescribed dosages, application methods and frequency. He indicated that awareness-raising and community outreach campaigns on the judicious use of pesticides had been stepped up as well.

Furthermore, the Minister reminded that schemes, facilities and support measures were being implemented to assist planters. The FAREI has provided training in good agricultural practices to approximately 780 beneficiaries, while around 1,000 planters have completed a Mauritius Qualifications Authority (MQA)-approved course on the judicious use of pesticides. In addition, bio-farming units have been set up across the island to familiarise growers with new agricultural techniques and the use of compost.

Moreover, Dr Boolell highlighted the Pesticides Regulatory Office’s efforts to promote transparency, ensure compliance and safeguard consumer health. Thus, samples of fruits and vegetables are regularly analysed by the Food Technology Laboratory to assess pesticide residue levels against the applicable maximum residue limits. The results are not only shared with growers and suppliers to help them comply with the relevant requirements but are also published online for public access.

The Minister warned that enforcement action would be taken to protect both consumers and planters. In this connection, four draft regulations were before the Attorney General’s Office, with a view to strengthening enforcement of the Use of Pesticides Act 2018 by the end of November 2026. The proposed regulations are the Use of Pesticides (Pesticides Maximum Residue Limits for Local and Imported Produce) Regulations 2026; the Use of Pesticides (Sampling of Local and Imported Produce for Pesticide Residue Testing) Regulations 2026; the Use of Pesticides (Mixing and Application of Pesticides in Agricultural and Non-Agricultural Areas and Disposal of Empty Pesticide Containers) Regulations 2026; and the Use of Pesticides (Training and Certification of Pesticides Users) Regulations 2026.

For his part, the Junior Minister underscored the environmental and ecological impact of the use of pesticide including its potential effects on water resources, soil and biodiversity.

On another front, Mr David announced that a series of events would be held soon to mark World Food Day, commemorated annually on 16 October. He stated that this year’s theme chosen by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, ‘Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow’, was timely, given the country’s efforts to promote sustainable and responsible agricultural practices.

21 October 2026

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Topics: Environment, Health, Agriculture