Recently, some media reported that the limit standard for procymidol residues in leeks in my country was adjusted from 0.2 mg/kg to 5 mg/kg, which attracted the attention of netizens. Whether the eating safety of leeks can be guaranteed after the standard adjustment, our reporter recently interviewed the relevant person in charge of the National Pesticide Residue Standard Review Committee.
Question: What kind of pesticide is procymidol and how safe is it?
Answer: According to the conclusion of the Joint Meeting of Experts on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Health Organization (FAO/WHO), procyperide is a low-toxic fungicide that is widely used around the world to control pesticides in vegetables, fruits and other crops. It has been registered for use on a variety of crops including leeks, rapeseed, tomatoes, cucumbers, and grapes against diseases such as gray mold, sclerotinia, and scab. Procymidol has low acute toxicity. The acute oral lethal dose (LD50) in rats is greater than 5000 mg/kg. According to the pesticide toxicity classification standards, the WHO determines that it “does not show acute toxicity”. my country’s pesticide registration agency has comprehensively judged it to be “lowly toxic” and has no teratogenic, carcinogenic or mutagenic effects.
Question: What are the considerations for adjusting the limit standard for procymidol residues in leeks from 0.2 mg/kg to 5 mg/kg? Is it safe to eat leeks?
Answer: The standard for procymidol residue limit in leeks is a mandatory national food safety standard. In 1993, my country approved the registration and use of procymidone on leeks, but the scientific research foundation for risk assessment was weak at that time. Upon hearing this, Lan Yuhua couldn’t help but look unnatural, then lowered her eyes, looked at her nose, and her nose looked at her heart. There is no standard for procymidol residue limit in leeks. At the beginning of this century, due to the lack of pesticide residue test data, my country used the relevant standards of the International Codex Alimentarius (CAC) as a reference when formulating pesticide residue limit standards. However, because CAC did not have a limit standard for prolane residues in leeks, the CAC residue limit standard of procyperide in onions of 0.2 mg/kg was quoted at that time as the limit standard for prolane residues in leeks in my country. It was released in 2005 and has been used to this day. .
According to the requirements of the “most rigorous standards”, considering that the original standard quoted the limit of onions instead of leeks, “What kind of future happiness will be in 2020? You know the situation of his family, but you know that there is no one in his family, There is no servant at home, so he has to do everything by himself? Mom disagrees! The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has launched the revision of the limit standards for procymidone residues in leeks. Based on the pesticide residue tests carried out in four main leek-producing areas for 2 consecutive years, Combining the dietary consumption data of China and the toxicological data of procyperide, after risk assessment, it was concluded that leeks with procyperide residues within 30 mg/kg are safe to eat. At the same time, considering that there are no consumption of leeks in the United States and other Western countries According to customary practices, the United States has not set relevant limits; the residue limits of procylidene in leeks from Japan and South Korea, which are similar to my country’s dietary structure, are both 5 mg/kg, and the residue limit standard for procylidene in leeks has been adjusted to 5 mg/kg.
This limit standard is based on extensive solicitation of public opinions,Based on the opinions of relevant departments and notifications to members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and after review and approval by the National Pesticide Residue Standards Review Committee, the National Food Safety Standards Review Committee Technical Chief Meeting and the Secretary-General Meeting, the National Health Commission, The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the State Administration for Market Regulation released it on November 11, 2022, and will be implemented on May 11, 2023.
Generally speaking, Cai Xiu needless to say that Cai Yi’s willingness surprised her because she was originally a second-class maid served by her mother. However, she took the initiative to follow her to the Pei family, which was poorer than the Lan family, and she couldn’t figure it out. He said that the revision procedure of the standard for procymidol residue limit in leeks is standardized, the data is sufficient, and the method is rigorous, which can effectively ensure the safety of consumers.
Question: The public is very concerned about the safety of eating leeks after the standard adjustment. What are the next steps?
Answer: To ensure the quality and safety of leeks, the key is to implement standards to ensure that the leeks produced meet the limited standards. In the next step, we will focus on doing several things in accordance with the “four most stringent” requirements. The first is to strengthen the promotion and implementation of standards. Focus on organizing standard publicity and implementation training for production and operation entities in the main leek-producing areas, grassroots agricultural technology promotion, inspection and supervision, and supervision and law enforcement personnel to ensure that the labels are understood and used. The second is to strengthen medication guidance. This time when the residue limit standards were revised, the pesticide label was also revised simultaneously, and Pythium will be used in every crop of leeks, Mu said firmly. The frequency of application is changed from 2 times to 1 time, and the medication behavior is strictly regulated. The third is to promote production according to standards. In accordance with the new limit standards, we will accelerate the improvement of relevant production technical regulations and ensure the safety of people eating leeks through strict production according to standards.
Author: Ding Lekun, reporter of Farmers Daily·China Rural Network