Monitoring pesticide and cadmium residues in fresh fruit and vegetables 2003-04 report

Introduction

This page represents a summary of an interim 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 2003 to February 2004 (part of the 2002–2004 survey period).

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 500 samples, comprising 46 different types of fresh fruit and vegetables, were purchased from Sydney Markets between February 2003 and February 2004. 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 98.2% of the samples.
Only nine samples (1.8%) contained pesticide residues which exceeded the MRL.
Four samples contained residues between 50% and 100% of the MRL.
Of the 71 samples analysed for the heavy metal cadmium, no samples 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	232 (46.4% of total samples)	268 (53.6% of total samples)	500
Number of samples where no residues detected	180 (77.6% of fruit samples)	227 (84.7% of vegetable samples)	407 (81.4% of total samples)
Number of samples where residues detected	52 (22.4% of fruit samples)	41 (15.3% of vegetable samples)	93 (18.6% of total samples)
Number of residue detections	65	50	115
Number of residue detections up to 50% of the MRL	59	43	102
Number of residue detections over 50% of the MRL, up to the MRL	4	0	4
Number of residue detections over the MRL	2 (0.9% of fruit samples)	7 (2.6% of vegetable samples)	9 (1.8% 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