Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation Recognized for 'Top-Level' Pesticide Residue Analysis Capability Evaluation

Certified Excellent Grade Among 66 Analysis Agencies Worldwide
"Doing Our Best to Supply Safe Food for Citizens"

The Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation (President Moon Young-pyo) announced on the 13th that it has been recognized for its top-level pesticide residue analysis capability in the '2024 International Proficiency Testing for Pesticide Residues (FAPAS)' hosted by the UK Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA).

The international proficiency testing for pesticide residues is a program called the 'International Comparative Proficiency Test' organized by the UK Food and Environment Research Agency. It evaluates agricultural and food chemical analysis capabilities by comparing proficiency levels in pesticide residues, heavy metals, food additives, and other fields among institutions worldwide. It is internationally recognized, with government agencies, university research institutes, and private analysis organizations from around the world participating annually.

Pesticide residue analysis scene. Provided by Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation.

This evaluation involved 66 analysis institutions worldwide, including the Seoul Agro-Fisheries & Food Corporation. FAPAS distributed the same sample (strawberry puree) to all 66 participating institutions, and the pesticide residue analysis results submitted by each institution were compared to assess their analytical capabilities. The corporation submitted analysis results for seven pesticide components.

The evaluation judges a Z-Score (comparative evaluation) value within '±2', which calculates the inter-laboratory error range, as a satisfactory grade, with values closer to 0 indicating the highest grade. In the program participation results of the corporation's safety inspection researchers, the Z-Score value for the pesticide component Proquinazid was 0.1, almost matching the average value of the 66 institutions. The other six submitted components also achieved top-level results with Z-Score values ranging from 0.2 to 0.5.

The corporation was first designated as a 'Safety Inspection Institution' by the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service in 2013, and has maintained analytical expertise and reliability in the fields of inorganic components and harmful substances through an additional designation as a 'Safety Testing Institution' in 2020. Since 2016, it has also conducted microbial and radiation inspections.

At the Garak and Gangseo markets managed by the corporation, 2.88 million tons of agricultural and fishery products are distributed annually, and 24,000 tons are distributed through the Eco-friendly Distribution Center (for daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary to high school meals).

President Moon Young-pyo stated, "The international recognition of our corporation's pesticide residue analysis capability in this international proficiency testing is the result of the efforts and dedication of our safety inspection researchers," adding, "Based on the internal and external credibility of our safety inspection work, we will do our best to supply safe food to citizens, schools, and the Dundeun Meal program."

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