Measures taken to reduce pesticide residues in fresh produce seem to be successful: the residual quantities of pesticides on fruit and vegetables found in recent years have clearly decreased. Since 2006, the percentage of fruit and vegetables suffering from residues has been reduced by more than 50%. The number of samples taken has doubled during this period. This according to data presented at the Fruit Logistica in Berlin by the 'QS-Fachgesellschaft Obst Gemüse-Kartoffeln GmbH' and the 'Deutsche Fruchthandelsverband eV’ (DFHV).
In 40% of the samples examined no traces of pesticides were found. For fruit and vegetables from the EU, the percentage of ‘contaminated’ produce was 0.9. For fruit and vegetables coming from outside the EU this percentage was 2.8%, a positive development since it is 0.4% less than last year.