In an encouraging move, the Central Insecticide Board (CIB) will, through the Ministry of Environment, soon ban 7 pesticides and also fix the maximum residue limit (MRL) for 23 more. In 2003, the mandatory requirement to determine that MRL and have it registered was abolished leading to the indiscriminate use of pesticides. Runoffs affected food products, water source, and contaminated ground water tables. A Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) headed by Food Minister Sharad Pawar recommended the enforcement of strict pesticide residue norms. Following the JPC recommendation, the CIB issued a notice last December banning the use of 31 pesticides (registered in the 70s and 80s) in 128 crops. However, there are 20 more pesticides in use in India that would feature in the World Health Organization's priority list. Currently, 195 pesticides have been registered with the CIB and only 66 of them have MRLs fixed.