India is the largest producer and consumer of pesticides in South Asia - the indiscriminate use of plant protecction chemicals are matters of concern to the public & policy makers. The problem of pesticide residues in the food chain-fish, meat, egg, vegetables, milk & milk products - has been reported from various part of the country. The usage of organochlorine pesticide in particular, is being questioned. The lipophilic natureof this pesticide makes it highly resistant to degradation & therefore, persist in the biota for a longer period. Most of these are stored in the adipose tissues and biomagnify and have the ability to cause mutagenecity, carcinogenecity, teratogenecity & a variety of physiological disorders in both man and animals.

The removal/reduction of these harmful pesticide residues require a feasible technology - ERL undertook the challenge/task to developing this technology. In 1989, ICAR sponsored a Top-Priority adhoc project on "Detoxification of pesticides in milk & milk products" and the ERL scientists successfully developed a gadget for detoxification of pesticide residues in the milk & milk products. The findings are pending with ICAR for approval to file the patent.