During the 2024 Symposium on Navigating Lack of Global Harmonization for Pesticide MRLs on Spices held in conjunction with the 2024 ASTA Annual Meeting, Giridhar Rao with Terova, a Subsidiary of Griffith Foods, Seif Shazly with Giza Seeds & Herbs, Sanjeev Bisht with ITC and Gary Ridgewell with Nedspice lead a panel discussion on spice farmer pest and disease threats and pesticide use practices. These are the slide presentations they provided to support the discussion.

The presence of pesticide chemical residues in foods, such as spices, is regulated under section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended (FFDCA). The permissible level of pesticide chemical residue allowed in or on foods or feed is governed by either a pesticide tolerance or an exemption from tolerance. If a food contains a pesticide residue for which no tolerance or exemption from tolerance has been established, it is adulterated within the meaning of section 402 of the FFDCA and is subject to enforcement action. ASTA has published a list of U.S. pesticide tolerances that are established for spices and herbs by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under 40CFR180. This list is intended to facilitate compliance with U.S. tolerances.