Chapter IV - General Provisions as to Articles of Food
Section 21
Section 21: Pesticides, veterinary drugs residues, antibiotic residues and microbiological counts
Section 21 limits specified chemical residues and microbiological counts in food.
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This article is for general information. Refer to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 official text for the official provisions. If you need professional advice for your situation, contact Bizeneed.
Statutory text
Bare law
(1) No article of food shall contain insecticides or pesticides residues, veterinary drugs residues, antibiotic residues, solvent residues, pharmacological active substances and micro-biological counts in excess of such tolerance limit as may be specified by regulations.
(2) No insecticide shall be used directly on article of food except fumigants registered and approved under the Insecticides Act, 1968 (46 of 1968). Explanation.–For the purposes of this section,– (1) “pesticide residue” means any specified substance in food resulting from the use of a pesticide and includes any derivatives of a pesticide, such as conversion products, metabolites, reaction products and impurities considered to be of toxicological significance and also includes such residues coming into food from environment; (2) “residues of veterinary drugs” include the parent compounds or their metabolites or both in any edible portion of any animal product and include residues of associated impurities of the veterinary drugs concerned.
Key takeaways
Core rule
Section 21 limits specified chemical residues and microbiological counts in food.
Practical check
Identify the substance, food category and regulatory tolerance, then check the sampling and analysis record. The explanations define pesticide and veterinary-drug residue.
Scope and operation
It covers pesticide, veterinary-drug, antibiotic, solvent and pharmacologically active residues, as well as microbiological counts. Direct insecticide use on food is barred except registered and approved fumigants under the named Act.
Applying the section
Identify the substance, food category and regulatory tolerance, then check the sampling and analysis record. The explanations define pesticide and veterinary-drug residue.
Official sources
Read the consolidated Act with the enacted and commenced amendments applicable to this section.
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Contact BizeneedLast updated 10 October 2026