"In recent years, the food sector has been regularly hit by crises. EHEC 5 years ago, but also chlorate, perchlorate and quaternary ammonium salts have caused a lot of turmoil in recent years. As a laboratory, you should be able to quickly develop the necessary methods to support the food sector with quick, qualitative analyses," explains Jef De Lombaerde, of Primoris Lab, in Colombia.
"European law is the strictest in the world and this does not always match with the practices of producers outside Europe," says Jef. "The European residue limits for protection products are based on GAP. These limits are certainly feasible, but controls are necessary. The United States, Russia and Japan also enforce fairly strict residue standards. Supermarkets are in a highly influential position and can therefore issue their own demands. A number of European supermarkets impose additional requirements as regards residues, which actually go beyond the standard EU legislation. These stricter requirements have to do with the MRL (maximum residue limit) and the ARfD (Acute Reference Dose)."
Organic products
There is, according to Jef, no uniform European legislation for organic products. "By default, values higher than 0.01 ppm are not allowed. This is not feasible for some producers because of the so-called "blockbuster herbicides." Glyphosate, paraquat, 2,4-D and pendimethalin have been used for decades worldwide, so the natural environment is actually no longer 'natural'. Even if the producer doesn't use them, they are sometimes still found in products because of their accumulation in the soil."
Added value
Jef explains that the work of the laboratory also generates added value. "Customers send the samples to us, so that we can identify any existing residues of pesticides and other harmful substances. The results of these analyses allow our customers to know if their end products comply with the law. They can equally be used as a guarantee of the safety and quality of their products. This commercial approach should not be underestimated, since an analysis report of a prestigious laboratory certainly improves a product's reputation."
Global support
Primoris, which has its main laboratory in Belgium, is specialised in residue analysis of pesticides, mycotoxins and other contaminants in food. "We provide support worldwide thanks to independent laboratories in Bulgaria and Colombia and representatives in countries like France and the Netherlands. Each year, we receive more than 60,000 samples from 50 different countries; 55% are fresh fruits and vegetables. We receive samples from over 50 countries. We are receiving more and more samples from Western and Eastern Europe, the United States and Latin America, but we are still looking for new markets to expand our business," explains Jef.
Demand from horticultural companies has grown
For Primoris, it all started in the 70's, at the University of Ghent, explains Jef. "In those days, the private sector, including experimental stations, auctions and large department stores, started demanding more and more analyses of their food. Over the years, something initially small became a routine activity for the laboratory, and the expertise and analytical capacity of the university laboratories are increasingly used to support the private sector and make adjustments in the use of pesticides. In the aftermath of the dioxin crisis, demand for our services continued to grow, especially amongst Flemish horticultural companies. This made it possible to set up Fytolab in 2001, followed by the creation of a laboratory in Bulgaria in 2010 and in Colombia in 2011. In 2014, the acquisition of CKCert took place and our business expanded to include quality control and certifications for the primary sector, including GlobalGAP, Vegaplan and Codiplan. In 2015, the name changed to Primoris."
Legislation
"In Colombia, Primoris is the only accredited laboratory for pesticides. In a broader scale, we are the only European laboratory with a local subsidiary where the tests are carried out entirely on site. Primoris Colombia has the same quality standards as Primoris Belgium, for example. This is a big advantage, because European customers often require analyses from a European laboratory. We closely monitor any changes in European legislation, so we can offer proper support to Latin American producers wishing to export to Europe," concludes Jef.
