Pesticides Testing for Food
Neotron provides analysis services for pesticides in the food and feed industry, allowing clients to ensure their product meets maximum residue limits.
Diseases and parasites can seriously reduce the yield of agricultural crops, fruits, and vegetables. In order to protect crops before and after the harvest, plant protection products containing pesticides are used. Normally these chemicals kill harmful insects, weeds and fungi.
The risk to the health of the population correlated with the intake of plant protection products through food is a very timely and complex problem. The amount of residues found in food must be safe for consumers and be as low as possible. A maximum residue limit (MRL) is the highest level of a pesticide that is legally tolerated in food or feed. These limits are also valid for processed products considering dilution or concentration factors during processing operations.
Multimethod approach
Thanks to the Multimethod approach it is possible to determine the pesticides considered critical for each crop. These critical issues were determined based on the positivities identified for each crop in the last 24 months, on the alerts and reports received from sector operators.
The multimethod proposal can be modulated on several levels of investigation; the first level is characterized by the molecules considered critical determinable with the QuEChERS approach. These molecules are added to those molecules co-determinable at no additional costs.
During the successive analytical levels, other groups and other molecules considered “critical” but not determinable with QuEChERS approach are added.
Each molecule within our multimethod proposals is determined in accordance with the applicable EU legislation, with a LOQ of 0.01mg / kg (or lower if required by the legislation – Ex: carbofuran) in the case of fresh products or 0.05mg / kg in the case of concentrated / dried products.
The determinations of Fosetyl Al and Dithiocarbamates as nonspecific determinations are excluded from the Multimethod proposal. If you are interested in these determinations, please request them separately.
In addition to multimethods on products of plant origin, specific multimethods were developed for products of animal origin following the same criterion.
The new pesticide screenings for 2022 are available, please contact us for more information.
Analysis of Residues on Babyfood
In case of products in the field of application of the Directives 125/2006 and 142/2006 it is possible to request the specific integration to the analytical proposal. This extension determines the substances for which the maximum applicable limit is not 0.01mg / kg but 0.03mg / kg.
Analysis of residues on products for animal feed
The Reg 396/2005 does not define maximum limits for products elaborated specifically for feed use. In order to perform the analyzes required by current legislation, it is advisable to inform the laboratory of the nature of the sample subjected of analysis, when requesting an offer. In fact, if it is a product that by its nature can be used for human or animal feed, it is necessary to apply the same profile used for products intended for human consumption.
Chlorate Residues
Published Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/749 of 4th June 2020 amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for chlorate in or on certain products.
Determination of Fosetyl Al in biological products
Studies made by CREA (Council for Research in Agriculture and Economics) have showed the presence of ethyl phosphonic acid and / or phosphites based products in technical means permitted in organic farming.
In view of the evidences gained, the sole presence of phosphonic acid, even if in absence of ethyl phosphonic acid, could be index of a utilisation of non-conform “technical means”.
Waiting for a harmonized approach at Community level, some Member States (including Italy), have provided to modify the procedures concerning the verifications made by certifications bodies. In Italy, for instance, it has been published the 5th Revision of the document Accredia RT-16 (Directives for accreditation of Bodies issuing declarations of conformity of organic products and food-stuffs according to EC Regulations n. 834/2007 and following integrations and modifications+C11
In order to satisfy the provisions of the new Accredia document, it is recommended the determination of phosphonic acid with 0,01 mg/kg limit of quantification (Detection of Fosetyl Aluminium Low Limit) in biological products.
Phosphonic acid in biological products
According to Legislative Decree 10 July 2020 ‘’Modifica del decreto 13 gennaio 2011, recante «Contaminazioni accidentali e tecnicamente inevitabili di prodotti fitosanitari in agricoltura biologica»’’
Analytical Techniques
Single or multiresidue methods, employ the best and most advanced equipment in order to guarantee the highest reliability and low limits of quantification. These include:
- GC-ECD
- GC-NPD
- GC-PFPD
- GC-MS/MS
- ULPC
- LC-MS/MS
- LC-Q/TOF
The analytical techniques adjusted to the new matrices allowed to extend the detection to almost every plant or animal tissue.
Systematic participation in the Proficiency Test provides external evidence of the performance of the applied test methods. Contact us to receive the results of the latest P-tests.
Request an Analysis
To learn more about our services, or to request an analysis for your business, please don't hesitate to contact us.
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Services
Food and Feed
Neotron is a leading European provider of analytical services for the food and feed industry. We provide advanced technological methods to test the chemical, microbiological, and molecular composition of food products for our clients.
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