Public Authority For Food And Nutrition Has Adopted A Mechanism To Test Fresh Fruits And Vegetables

The Public Authority for Food and Nutrition has adopted a mechanism to test fresh fruits and vegetables arriving in the country through different outlets, reports Al-Anba daily. According to the mechanism the products exporting country must produce the phytosanitary certificate at the port of entry to certify plant and plant products are free from regulated pests and conform to other phytosanitary requirements as specified by the importing country.

The products should also conform to Codex – a maximum residue level (MRL). MRL is the highest level of a pesticide residue that is legally tolerated in or on food or feed when pesticides are applied correctly (Good Agricultural Practice).

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The mechanism stated the phytosanitary certificate must be authenticated by the Kuwaiti Embassy in the country of origin or the embassy of any other GCC country if Kuwait does not have an embassy in the product exporting country. In addition, the inspection shall be carried out by the food inspectors in accordance with the provisions of Article 45 of the Food Regulations Act.

The goods shall be made after approval of the committee comprising two food inspectors and the approval of the head of the committee. The Imported Foodstuffs Department shall take samples from some or all consignments arriving in the country and send samples to the food inspection laboratories accredited to the Food and Nutrition Authority of the Ministry of Health to carry out appropriate laboratory tests.

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If the results of the laboratory test show pesticide residues in the samples above the permissible level, the laboratory will show in the test result the type and percentage of the pesticide. The laboratory will also inform the Imported Foodstuffs Department administration of the results to tighten control over the foodstuffs importing company. Release of such products shall only be made after the completion of the laboratory test and proving their validity for human consumption.

 

SOURCE : ARABTIMES