1.6% of Agricultural Products Distributed in Gyeonggi-do Fail Pesticide Residue Standards... 8,978 Cases Inspected

by Lee YeongKyu

Published 18 Apr.2023 10:10(KST)

2022 Residual Pesticide Inspection by Numbers

The non-compliance rate for pesticide residues in agricultural products distributed within Gyeonggi Province was found to be 1.6%.

On the 18th, the Gyeonggi Provincial Institute of Health and Environment announced that in safety inspections conducted on 8,978 agricultural product samples collected last year from distribution stores and wholesale markets within the province, 142 cases (1.6%) were identified as non-compliant due to pesticide residues.

Compared to 2021, the number of inspections decreased by 649 cases, but the number of non-compliance cases increased by 11. The non-compliant items included young radish leaves (Yeolmu) with 19 cases (5.1%), spinach with 11 cases (2.6%), crown daisy (Ssukgat) with 9 cases (5.1%), and bok choy (Cheonggyeongchae) with 9 cases (5.1%).

By month, July and September each recorded 19 cases (2.3%), October had 16 cases (2.1%), and April had 15 cases (2.1%), showing higher non-compliance rates during the summer monsoon, pre-shipment periods, and spring planting seasons.

By collection location, non-compliance was 86 cases (2.0%) out of 4,393 samples from auction sites, and 56 cases (1.2%) out of 4,585 samples from distribution stores, indicating a higher non-compliance rate at agricultural product auction sites than at distribution stores.

The Provincial Institute of Health and Environment published the "2022 Gyeonggi Province Agricultural Product Pesticide Residue Statistical Yearbook" containing this information on the same day.

An official from the Provincial Institute of Health and Environment stated, "We expect the statistical yearbook to be used as basic data for local governments in promoting public health and establishing agricultural product safety policies, for academic research, and for the economic activities of residents."