Turkey Introduces Ban on Use of Some Pesticides

The Turkish Agriculture Ministry has introduced a ban on the use of nine chemical substances in the production of tomatoes, peppers, zucchinis and pears.

The ministry issued a circular letter to all provincial offices and asked officials to warn all exporters, producers and farmers on pesticide residue on fresh peppers, zucchinis, tomatoes and pears.

Prohibited chemical substances include carbendazim, clofentenize, diafenthiuron, dimethoate, formetanate, malathion, procymidon, tetradifen and thiophanate-methyl.

The ministry’s decision comes after the European Union amended a regulation last year on “official controls on imports of certain feed and food of non-animal origin.” The EU’s regulation tightens controls on these nine chemical substances along with methomyl and oxamyl, which had been banned earlier.

A ministry official said that measures on food safety taken in Turkey were much tougher than EU criteria.

“The prohibition of these chemical substances will pave the way for production of higher quality products and protection of human health,” said Bedrullah Erçin, head of the ministry’s provincial office in Antalya.

“The EU’s ban is not against Turkish products. Although several substances were banned in previous years, Turkey’s exports rose 23 percent in 2010,” Erçin said.

Sunday, April 3, 2011
SOURCE: HURRIYET DAILY NEWS