‘Pesticide Detection’ in Imported Agricultural Products Threatens the Nation's Dining Table

aT Fails to Recall Despite Excessive Residual Pesticide Detection
Seosamseok Calls for Measures Including Exporting Countries' Accountability

Assemblyman Seo Samsuk

The Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) is facing criticism for failing to recall most imported agricultural products found to contain residual pesticides, raising concerns about public safety.

On the 22nd, Representative Seo Sam-seok (Yeongam, Muan, Sinan) of the Democratic Party analyzed data submitted by aT and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for the national audit. The analysis revealed that in December last year, out of 2,920 tons of dried chili peppers imported from China, 200 tons were found to contain residual pesticide "Chlorfenapyr" exceeding the standard limit. Chlorfenapyr is a plant growth regulator that can cause reproductive system damage if excessively consumed and is also used as a herbicide ingredient.

aT only recognized the excessive detection of residual pesticides in the dried chili peppers in February this year, three months after import and distribution, and it was found that 50% of the affected amount, 100 tons, was not recalled.

This is not the first time residual pesticides have been detected in imported agricultural products. In 2011, out of 1,218 tons of dried chili peppers imported from India, 1,003 tons (82%) were found to contain residual pesticides such as "Ethion" and "Triazophos." Additionally, in 2020, out of 2,000 tons of mung beans from Myanmar, 1,000 tons (50%) were found to exceed the standard limit for "Thiamethoxam," leading to a sales suspension and recall. However, 47% (476 tons) of dried chili peppers and 91% (914 tons) of mung beans were not recalled.

Since 2011, a total of 713 tons of residual pesticide-contaminated agricultural products have been collected, with estimated losses amounting to 2.076 billion KRW. aT has been unable to demand compensation or even return the contaminated products due to diplomatic relations with exporting countries, resulting in wasted budget.

aT’s recall methods are also problematic. When residual pesticides are detected, aT only registers the information on its website and notifies the first and second-tier purchasers by phone. This time, citing difficulty in confirming detailed distribution routes, aT visited only 7 out of 354 sales companies (2%) to carry out the recall of the imported dried chili peppers.

Representative Seo stated, “Imported agricultural products with residual pesticides that are not recalled end up on dining tables, threatening public health,” and criticized, “aT must take direct responsibility and recover all contaminated products to restore public trust.”

He also emphasized, “aT has not taken any measures to hold exporting countries accountable for residual pesticide-contaminated agricultural products,” urging, “aT should expand and establish detailed distribution route tracking and preemptive residual pesticide detection systems, and consider legal actions to return contaminated products to the exporting countries when residual pesticides are detected.”

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