Monitoring pesticide and cadmium residues in fresh fruit and vegetables 2002-05 report

Introduction

This page represents a summary of the final report compiled by NSW Department of Primary Industries on the results of the pesticide residue and cadmium monitoring program in horticultural commodities distributed through the Sydney Markets from February 2002 to February 2005.

NSW Department of Primary Industries and Sydney Markets Limited (SML) have continued to fund the Pesticide Residue Survey since its inception in 1989. Details of previous surveys are available on the website or in the published reports.

Maximum residue limits (MRLs)

The efficient and sustainable production of fruit and vegetables in Australia necessitates the control of pests, diseases and weeds. This control is partly achieved through the strategic and cost-effective use of pesticides. The registration of pesticides and the establishment of maximum residue limits (MRLs) seeks to prescribe the maximum residues that would occur in Australian fruit and vegetable produce when pesticides are used according to good agricultural practice, and label directions are followed.

Maximum permitted concentration (MPC) for cadmium

The establishment of a maximum permitted concentration (MPC) for cadmium in root and leafy vegetables (as well as many other commodities) is the level above which there could be health implications.

Summary of interim report

Some 1497 samples, comprising 48 different types of fresh fruit and vegetables, were purchased from Sydney Markets between February 2002 and February 2005. The samples were analysed for residues of 28 pesticides, and some samples were also tested for the heavy metal cadmium:

Pesticide residues either were absent or complied with the MRL in 97.6% of the samples.
Only thirty-six samples (2.4%) contained pesticide residues which exceeded the MRL.
Fifteen samples contained residues between 50% and 100% of the MRL.
Of the 207 samples analysed for the heavy metal cadmium, one sample (0.5%) contained cadmium above the MPC.

Summary of pesticide residue results

Note: The results for cadmium levels are not contained in this table.

	Fruit	Vegetables	Total
Number of samples	697 (45.3% of total samples)	818 (54.7% of total samples)	1497
Number of samples where no residues detected	530 (78% of fruit samples)	636 (77.7% of vegetable samples)	1166 (77.9% of total samples)
Number of samples where residues detected	155 (22.8% of fruit samples)	176 (21.5% of vegetable samples)	331 (22.1% of total samples)
Number of residue detections	180	207	387
Number of residue detections up to 50% of the MRL	163	173	336
Number of residue detections over 50% of the MRL, up to the MRL	8	7	15
Number of residue detections over the MRL	9 (1.3% of fruit samples)	27 (3.3% of vegetable samples)	36 (2.4% of total samples)

Contact details

For further information, please contact:

Sandra Hardy, District Horticulturist (Fruit)
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Locked Bag 26
Gosford NSW 2250
Phone: (02) 4348 1900
e-mail: sandra.hardy@dpi.nsw.gov.au