Analyses carried out by the Laboratory of Production and Plant Protection of Almeria have confirmed the use of ethephon on a farm in the province which exported two batches of tomatoes to the Netherlands. The Council of Agriculture has announced that it will enforce the relevant disciplinary proceedings, since Spanish regulations prohibit the use of this plant protection product in tomato crops, and has taken control of the plants remaining in the facilities. The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture will also become involved.
On 28 April, Dutch authorities reported to the European system of health warnings that they had detected two consignments of tomatoes from Spain exceeding the maximum permitted residue levels (MRLs). On the 29th, traceability records confirmed that the product came from a farm in the province of Almeria. The technicians of the delegation proceeded to inspect it and found tomato crops in two greenhouses run by the company, of which they took samples for analysis.
Tests have confirmed the presence of ethephon in both cases, one of them also with a higher MRL than allowed. Ethephon is a growth-regulating substance which accelerates the ripening process. It is a phytosanitary product authorised by a European regulation that established the MRL at 1 milligram per kilo of tomatoes. In Spain, however, it is forbidden for use in tomato crops, and is only authorised for products such as cotton, apples, olives or table grapes.
Source: almeria360.com