82 of 877 tested farm products non-compliant for pesticides: TFDA

Taipei, June 23 (CNA) Nearly 10 percent of 877 fruits, vegetables and agricultural products selected for pesticide residue tests in March and April were non-compliant, Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) said Monday.

The 82 non-compliant products, or 9.4 percent of the total, included strawberries imported from Japan and roses imported from Iran, according to the TFDA.

The tests, part of the TFDA's pesticide residue monitoring program, covered 611 samples specifically chosen for enhanced monitoring, of which 79 samples failed to meet regulatory standards, and 266 randomly selected samples, with three non-compliant.

Among the non-compliant items, strawberries imported from Japan were found to contain 1.13 ppm of isopyrazam, a pesticide that is not allowed, and the importer was fined NT$60,000 (US$2013), said TFDA Southern Center Director Wei Jen-ting (魏任廷).

Another batch of strawberries imported by the same importer during the same March-April monitoring period was found with 0.19 ppm of spirotetramat, another pesticide not permitted in strawberries, according to Wei.

Because it was the importer's second violation, it was given an increased fine of NT$120,000, Wei said.

Also on the non-compliant list were roses imported from Iran, which was found to contain 0.15 ppm of cypermethrin, a pesticide not authorized for use in the product, according to Wei.

In addition, white fungus imported from China was found to contain 0.32 ppm of imidacloprid, violating usage regulations.

In a domestic case, locally grown cilantro taken from a domestic restaurant was found to contain 0.02 ppm each of chlorpyrifos and ethion, neither of which are allowed in the spice, Wei said, adding that the case is being further investigated.