Pesticide monitoring in food in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2019

Abstract

Pesticide residues in or on foods of plant/animal origin occur as a result of the use of chemical agents in plant protection, biocide preparations and veterinary medicine and may pose a risk to public health. For this reason, a comprehensive legal framework has been adopted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, defining rules for the approval of active substances used in plant protection products, the use of plant protection products and the regulation of maximum permitted quantities of pesticide residues in and on food. In 2019, 195 samples were analysed as part of pesticide monitoring. The control programme carried out the monitoring of residues/remains of 180 active substances in 155 products of plant origin, 30 products of animal origin and 10 products from the category of food for infants and young children. In total, of the 195 samples analysed, 141 samples did not contain pesticide residues at the quantification level, but 54 samples (27.7%) contained pesticide residues in/above the quantification level.