The Food and Veterinary Agency has said that it is monitoring the situation after the European Food Safety System has raised the alarm about mandarin cargoes coming from Albania. AUV has increased control measures for mandarin cargoes and samples will be taken for testing to determine if they have the presence of pesticides above the permitted levels in mandarins.
Shipments of tangerines have been stopped at border checkpoints pending the results of laboratory analyses.
“AUV from last night has raised the level of control measures for cargoes with the type of mandarin product. All contingents or loads with these products, in addition to the detailed inspection control, samples are taken from each one for laboratory testing in order to test/determine the level of residues in pesticides included (type of suspect parameter for testing (MRL) in Chlorpyrifos and phosmet) “, says the announcement of the AUV.
AUV has added that even though Kosovo was not included in the announcements of the European System, it has nevertheless taken measures to remove doubts.
“As long as Kosovo is not included in the announcements of RASFF, we take the decided measure with the aim of eliminating the raised suspicions… So far there has been no suspicious element on these products”, the Agency further said.