Phytosanitary Inspection banned the Import of 400 Kilograms of Plums in BiH

The Republic Phytosanitary Inspection, as part of the regular inspection of consignments in foreign trade, banned the import of a consignment of 400 kilograms of plums originating from North Macedonia, because pesticide residues were found above the prescribed maximum level, the Inspectorate of Republika Srpska told Srna news agency.

Control of fruits and vegetables in RS is performed during import, in order to determine whether it is healthy and safe for human use, and the biggest risk with these products is the illegal amount of pesticides, mycotoxins and heavy metals, and these are the parameters to which perform laboratory analyzes.

The Inspectorate stated that in the first half of this year, during the import, the competent inspection took 607 samples of fruits, vegetables and cereals for human consumption for the needs of laboratory testing. 

Irregularities were found in two consignments, and the inspector issued a decision prohibiting the import and ordering the return of consignments to the sender or destruction under the supervision of the competent inspector. 

In one case, an increased presence of pesticides was found in a shipment of mandarins originating in Turkey in the amount of 20,950 kilograms, while in another case the import of a shipment of bananas originating in Ecuador in the amount of 19.5 tons was banned, because the documentation accompanying the shipment does not provide the necessary food traceability. 

Competent inspectors pay special attention to seasonal products, which are imported more intensively in a certain shorter period of the year and which are characteristic for certain seasons. 

The Inspectorate notes that shipments from which samples were taken for analysis are prohibited from placing on the market, distribution or processing, until the inspector makes a decision in accordance with the results of laboratory testing of samples. Given this procedure, in cases where the analysis reveals an irregularity, there is no risk that the food was consumed because it was not even available to consumers.