Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported the seizure of three batches of fresh cherries from the U.S. due to the detection of mefentrifluconazole residue, a fungicide not approved for use on cherries in Taiwan. The levels of residue ranged from 0.05 to 0.17 ppm. The FDA highlighted that while mefentrifluconazole is utilized in pear and apple production within Taiwan, its application on cherries is prohibited due to the absence of an established maximum residue level (MRL).
The issue of setting an MRL for this fungicide in cherries is under review by the FDA, following an application from U.S. authorities in September 2023. However, no specific timeframe for this review has been provided. The seized cherries, weighing 2,340 kilograms, mark the first confiscation of the year and relate to the current U.S. cherry production season. These cherries will be either returned to the sender or destroyed.
The FDA has increased its scrutiny of imported U.S. cherries, with inspection rates potentially rising from 20% to 50% based on the exporter's history and associated risk levels. In a recent six-month period, 46 batches of cherries were inspected, with three failing to meet the consumption standards set by the FDA.
Source: taiwannews.com.tw