Philippine Sets Limits on Pesticide Residues in Select Food Items

On July 12, 2024, the Philippine National Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) announced several new standards for pesticide residue limits in food. Among them, the most notable ones are the Standard for Pesticide Residue Limits in sweet peppers and capsicum (PNS/BAFS 378:2024) and the Standard for Pesticide Residue Limits in chives (PNS/BAFS 377:2024). These new standards will be implemented from the moment they are published.

Specifically, according to these two new standards, the pesticide residue limit of bell peppers has been further clarified. Among them, the maximum residue levels of four pesticides - avermectin, menafarb, chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin - were set at 0.09 mg, 5 mg, 2 mg and 0.01 mg per kg, respectively. For peppers, the maximum residue of these four pesticides is 0.005 mg per kg, 0.5 mg, 3 mg and 2 mg, and the pesticide imidamide is also added, and its maximum residue is set at 3 mg per kg. As for chives, the pesticide residue limits are mainly for the two pesticides cyfenazole and fluxonil, with a maximum residue of 6 mg and 0.8 mg per kg, respectively.

The original intention of the Philippine government to introduce these new standards is to further regulate food safety management and ensure that consumers' health is not threatened. In order to ensure that these standards can be effectively implemented, relevant departments will increase supervision and inspection efforts to ensure that all agricultural products meet the requirements of these new standards.