Fiji’s Ministry of Agriculture is determined to have all fruits and vegetables with pesticide residue on them confiscated. It has announced a pilot program to screen pesticide residue on vegetables and fruits at municipal markets around the country.
The standards of confiscating vegetables and fruits will be set out by the Ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. As part of this program, the Pesticide Test Kit at its Fiji Agricultural Chemistry Laboratory -based at the Koronivia Research Station- will be used for pesticide screening.
Acting Director Crop Research dr. Apaitia Macanawai says this project will help in the Establishment of a Food Safety Laboratory for Analysis of Pesticide Residue in fruits, vegetables and root crops for quantitative analysis.
According to fijivillage.com, the Ministry of Agriculture will also work with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services on standards and regulations to confiscate vegetables found to be unsafe.
