Originally published January 2 2006
Finnish regulators discover higher level of pesticides in contaminated foods
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Finland's National Food Agency recently conducted a study of various food products from Finland and EU countries, and the statistics from that report indicate a higher level of pesticides is present in fruits, veggies and cereals than was previously assumed.
In 2004, Finland's food regulator found that about five per cent of such products had a higher level of pesticide residues that is allowed in the EU.
Last year 2,171 samples of products of vegetable origin were analysed for the presence of 199 pesticides.
Of the samples, 1,584 were fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, 137 were cereals, and 387 were processed foods.
A total of 60 of the products were from third countries, 36 were from other EU countries and two originated in Finland.
Two thirds of fruit samples, half of cereal samples, one-third of vegetable samples and one-fifth of samples of processed products contained detectable residues of pesticides.
About 50 per cent of products from other EU states and 52 per cent of the samples from non-EU countries had detectable levels of pesticides.
The NFA said it initiated legal action against the distributor or manufacturer of each product found to have illegal levels of pesticides.
Glyphosate was found in two thirds of the samples of imported cereals but not in any of the domestic cereals samples.
The regulator found endosulphane had been used in the disinfection of an empty greenhouse prior to the crop season, while dimethoate had been applied on raspberries in compliance with outdated instructions.
The EU's Plant Protection Products Directive (91/414/EEC) came into force on 26 July 1993.
The legislation harmonises the bloc's procedures for authorising chemicals and other substances used in plant agriculture production.
The directive also established a list of substances that have been shown to be without unacceptable risk to people or the environment and that may be used.
Member states can only authorise the marketing and use of plant protection products after an active substance is listed, except in cases where transitional arrangements apply.
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