Pesticide Residue Analysis as an Appropriate Control of Good Agricultural Practice

Abstract

Abstract All pesticides are toxic but their toxicities differ markedly, not only in nature, but also in amount that is required to produce signs of toxicity. Therefore, pesticide application must be followed by measures intended to find out whether the residues, remaining on or in food, are the smallest amounts practicable and whether these are toxicologically acceptable. Adoption of the “good agricultural practice” allows the correct and adequate pesticide application. On the other hand, monitoring analysis of pesticide residues in food demonstrates whether the residues are within the “maximum residue limits” -MRLs-or “tolerances”. Brazil adopts the MRLs established by the FAO/WHO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues -JMPR- and endorsed by the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues. In some particular cases MRLs are set at a national level for pesticides not yet evaluated by the JMPR. Analysis of pesticide residues in Brazil began in 1970 and the first monitoring programme was started in 1978 in the State of Sao Paulo. A few vegetable and fruit samples are analyzed for organo-chlorine and organo-phosphorus pesticides on a weekly basis. Farmers and spraymen are receiving with interest the information, given by agronomists of the extension service, how to apply pesticides correctly in order to maintain the residues within the maximum permitted levels or tolerances. The present results confirm that monitoring pesticide residues in food can be used as an adequate control of the correct and safe pesticide application even in developing countries.