The PRC report provides additional information not previously included in reporting on residues. For example, details of the assessment of risk to human health and not just the breaking of maximum residue limits (MRLs).

Among products surveyed in the third quarter for the report were grapes, starfruit, kiwifruit, mango, peaches and nectarines. For grapes and kiwifruit there were no MRL exceedances and where MRLs were exceeded for two samples of starfruit, three of mangoes and one sample of nectarines, risk assessment showed that safety margins were in tact.

The report found that exceedances of MRLs for starfruit and mango are indicative of the wider problem of imports of tropical and subtropical produce from developing countries being addressed by the industry and the EU authorities.

'The FPC had anticipated these problems, which emerged a few years ago and we have been working on the issue for the past four years,' said FPC chief executive Doug Henderson. 'The Pesticide Initiative Programme is referred to in the report and is already well under way with E28million of funding.' But campaign group Friends of the Earth was not so cheered by the report commenting that the results were 'bad news for children' and is calling on retailers and the World Health Organisation to prioritise residue reduction for foods popular with children.

Henderson was critical of this stance. 'It is wrong for Friends of the Earth to link their desire for production systems that don't use pesticides with trying to frighten consumers when pesticides are used, albeit within legal tolerances,' he said.

To view the entire report visit www.pesticides.gov.uk

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