Dutch Safety Authority: Decrease in MRL violations

In more than 8,000 samples of the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, taken between January 2012 and December 2013, MRL’s (Maximum Residue Levels) were exceeded in just 42 cases. Between July 2011 and June 2013, there were still 62 violations. This shows that the strict EU policy is bearing fruit, says the authority in its multi-year report 'residues of pesticides in fruits and vegetables' 2012 -2013.

Further research shows that about 99% of the fruit and vegetable in Dutch stores meets the legal requirements. In those cases where the remains of plant protection products are detected, the amount is so low that the effects on health are almost negligible.

Most violations come from outside the EU, from locations such as Southeast Asia, China, Kenya, Suriname and the Dominican Republic. Thanks to tighter controls, these countries are increasingly adhering to strict EU requirements. If the EU finds insufficient improvement, more stringent import requirements, like the demand of relevant certificates, are implemented.