Hwaseong-si "International Recognition of Agricultural Residue Pesticide Analysis Capability"

UK FAPAS Evaluation Report Receives 'Satisfaction' Grade

The pesticide residue analysis capability for agricultural products in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do has been found to meet international standards.

Hwaseong-si announced on the 8th that the Hwaseong Agricultural Technology Center received a "satisfactory" rating for all 11 components in the international proficiency test for pesticide residues in agricultural products conducted last month by FAPAS (Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme).

A researcher at Hwaseong Agricultural Technology Center is analyzing pesticide residues in agricultural products.
[Photo by Hwaseong City]

FAPAS is an agricultural and food chemical analysis proficiency evaluation conducted by the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) under the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. It compares the proficiency levels of analytical institutions and analysts worldwide in areas such as pesticide residues, heavy metals, and food additives. Every year, government agencies, research institutes, and private analytical institutions from around the world participate in the evaluation, and in Korea, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, the Agricultural Products Quality Management Service, and the Agricultural Science Institute participate.

In this evaluation, the Hwaseong Agricultural Technology Center received a "satisfactory" rating for all 11 component analyses. Three components (Cabaryl, Hexythiazox, Isoproturon) achieved a z-score of '0', indicating the highest excellence, and the other eight components recorded absolute values below '1'. A z-score of 0 means the best performance, and the closer to 0, the better the analysis results. Institutions scoring an absolute value of 2 or less are considered to have accurate analytical capabilities.

Shin Mi-young, director of the Hwaseong Agricultural Technology Center, said, "With this proficiency evaluation internationally recognizing our reliability, we will strive even harder to ensure that Hwaseong consumers can purchase local food with confidence."

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