Jeonnam Health Institute Strengthens Residual Pesticide Safety Inspections... 11 Cases Non-compliant at Suncheon Wholesale Market

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute announced on the 4th that, as of October this year, out of 336 agricultural products tested for pesticide residue safety before auction at the Suncheon Agricultural Products Wholesale Market, 11 cases, or 3.3%, were judged to be non-compliant.

The 11 non-compliant agricultural products included 9 types: naengi (Shepherd's purse), jjokpa (green onions), spinach, eggplant, bangpungnamul (Siler root), meowi (Aralia continentalis), yeolmup leaves (young radish leaves), bireumnamul (amaranth), and kkaesun (perilla shoots). The detected pesticides included 15 substances such as insecticides like terbufos and pd-flumethofen, and fungicides like carbendazim and tebuconazole.

The number of non-compliant cases increased compared to 4 cases in 2020 and 7 cases in 2021. This was largely attributed to the increase in inspection items using advanced equipment and the implementation of the Positive List System (PLS) for pesticide residue standards.

The pesticide residue standard is a system that strengthens pesticide tolerance standards by setting maximum residue limits for each agricultural product, and applies a uniform standard of non-detection level (0.01 mg/kg) for pesticides without established residue limits.

The Suncheon Agricultural Products Wholesale Market is the only wholesale market in Jeonnam among 32 agricultural wholesale markets nationwide where auctions for agricultural products are conducted, mainly for fruits and vegetables.

Since the end of 2018, the Agricultural Products Inspection Office of the Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute has been equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and, with support from Suncheon City more than twice a week, conducts random rapid pesticide residue tests before auctions at the wholesale market and notifies safety status within 4 hours.

To be judged as 'compliant,' the pesticide residues must not exceed the registered pesticide limits for each crop as well as the maximum residue limits according to the pesticide tolerance standards.

Non-compliant agricultural products are seized and disposed of before auction. This year, a total of 1,235 kg of agricultural products were disposed of. Additionally, the results are reported to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the relevant local governments of the production areas to request administrative actions.

Yang Ho-cheol, head of the Agricultural Products Inspection Office at the Jeonnam Health and Environment Research Institute, said, “We will further strengthen pesticide residue inspections on agricultural products and continuously promote awareness to prevent pesticide misuse and enhance the health of residents.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.