Busan City: 94.2% of Chuseok High-Demand Agricultural Products Pass Residual Pesticide Inspection

Pesticide Residue Test Results for 120 Popular Items at Eomgung and Banyeo Agricultural Wholesale Markets

7 Non-compliant Agricultural Products Seized and Disposed... Distribution Blocked and Administrative Action Requested

The Busan Institute of Health and Environment announced that, ahead of the Chuseok holiday, it conducted residual pesticide safety tests on 120 high-demand agricultural products brought into the Eomgung and Banyeo agricultural wholesale markets in Busan. As a result, 94.2% of the products met the permitted standards.

The items tested were 120 agricultural products for ritual and gift use shipped to the Eomgung and Banyeo wholesale markets from August 19 to September 3. By category, there were ▲102 cases of vegetables ▲16 cases of fruits ▲1 case of root crops (sweet potato) ▲1 case of aromatic plants (Bangaiip).

A total of 7 cases across 6 items were found to be non-compliant due to residual pesticide levels exceeding the permitted standards. By category, these included ▲6 cases in 5 types of leafy vegetables (2 cases of lettuce, and 1 case each of perilla leaves, young napa cabbage, young radish, and chicory) ▲1 case in 1 type of leaf-stem vegetable (green onion).

The residual pesticide components that exceeded the standards were a total of eight types: dimethoate, linuron, metaflumizone, buprofezin, omethoate, tetraconazole, propanil, and fluazinam.

The institute ensured that the non-compliant agricultural products were seized and discarded by the wholesale market management offices to prevent their distribution, and notified the relevant administrative authorities to take action against the producers.

Lee Yongju, Director of the Busan Institute of Health and Environment, stated, "Ahead of Chuseok, the nation's major holiday, we focused our inspections on agricultural products for ritual and gift use, whose consumption increases during this period," adding, "Our institute will continue to ensure the supply of safe agricultural products through planned collection and inspection during high-demand periods, such as the kimchi-making season."