EU reports banned pesticide residues in Egyptian produce

The EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed recorded several May notifications involving fruit and vegetables from Egypt, including residues of five active substances not authorised for use in European agriculture: dimethoate, oxamyl, clothianidin, chlorpyrifos and imidacloprid.

According to AVA-ASAJA, the cases included Egyptian oranges rejected in the Netherlands after detections of dimethoate and oxamyl, lemons stopped in Cyprus over clothianidin residues, another lemon consignment linked to chlorpyrifos, and peaches flagged in Italy with several banned substances. Tomatoes from Egypt were also rejected due to chlorpyrifos.

The Valencian farmers’ association said Egypt again stood out among third countries in the EU alert system and called on Brussels to strengthen checks both at origin and at EU entry points. It warned that repeated residue findings from non-EU suppliers create unfair pressure on European growers, who must comply with stricter production, traceability and food safety rules.

AVA-ASAJA also pointed to further May alerts involving Turkish peppers and tomatoes, as well as products from Pakistan, Peru, Vietnam and China. The association urged EU institutions to take firmer action against countries that repeatedly appear in food safety notifications, arguing that imported produce should meet the same standards required of European farmers.

source and photo: avaasaja.org