Fruit and vegetables on Dutch shelves hardly show any remainder of harmful means of protection. This is clear from the more than 8000 products tested by the Dutch Voedsel and Waren Authoriteit (NVWA - A food safety organisation) in 2011 and 2010. Much bought fruit and vegetables such as potatoes, cauliflower and apples have less than 1% residue traces above the legal limit. This is different to imported products from countries outside the European Union. Because the greatest health risks are here NVWA is tightening the inspection at importers of these products even more.
At spot checks in 2010 and 2011 NVWA concentrated on risk products and countries, such as tropical fruit and herbs from Surinam, Vietnam and Thailand. Amongst 8000 samples inspected there were 42 cases in such high excess of resiude that health risks could not be excluded. Wherever possible the parcels were called back from the trade or the import was blocked.
Legal limit
By using plant protection means during cultivation residues may remain. In Europe the Maximum Residual Limit (RML) has been instituted for the protection of the public health and as a measure of good agricultural practice. This is to ensure that growers do not use more plant protection means than necessary.
more risk products when inspecting.
The controls
The NVWA controls by way of spot checks whether legal limits are adhered to. On the basis of European Regulation 669/2009 a stricter control applies to a number of products from outside the EU, enumerated by the European Commission. Also importers, who did not follow the legal requirements in the past, are controlled more often.
In addition NVWA continues with spot checks at traders, importers and shop chains in order to be in a position to publish a general impression of the residual limits in fruit and vegetables in the Netherlands.
For more information:
For more information:
- report plant protection means fruit and vegetables
- tables of inspection findings
- file plant protection means fruit and vegetables