CIPC Residues Monitoring Group encourages fresh sector to participate in potato monitoring programme as one in seven stores still return detectable sprout inhibitor residue
GB Potatoes and the CIPC Residues Monitoring Group (CRMG) are urging potato growers to submit their chlorpropham (CIPC) residue sampling results before 31 August.
CIPC is a sprout inhibitor formerly used in potato storage. Although it is no longer approved for use in the UK, historic residues can remain in stores and on equipment.
According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), eating products that have been treated with chlorpropham is linked to health risks.
Around one in seven stores still return a detectable CIPC residue, compared with approximately one in four during the first year of monitoring.
While these detections are within acceptable regulatory levels, the results show that historic residues can remain in stores and underline the importance of continued thorough cleaning.
Adrian Cunnington, chair of CRMG, said: “The trend is encouraging and the industry deserves credit for the progress made. But we cannot be complacent.
“With around one in seven stores still showing a positive result, there is clearly more work to do, and thorough cleaning between storage seasons remains the single most important action growers can take.”
The current temporary Maximum Residue Level for CIPC stands at 0.35mg/kg.
Monitoring results remain below this acceptable limit, but continued sampling and effective store cleaning are essential to demonstrate ongoing compliance and to prepare the industry should the regulatory threshold tighten in future, the CRMG said.
