High levels of pesticides detected in melons from Morocco

Subject: High levels of pesticides detected in melons from Morocco

On 5 April 2024, Spain published a notification on the European Union Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) stating that chlorpyrifos (a pesticide) residue exceeding the maximum residue limit (MRL) had been detected in a shipment of melons from Morocco. The risk posed by the residue was classified as potentially serious because, if ingested, the pesticide can have seriously affect the nervous system and the consequences are potentially lethal.1

It is the second time in less than a month that fruit from Morocco has been seized at the border to stop products that are not in compliance with EU health rules from entering: first it was strawberries infected with hepatitis A and now it is melons with pesticide levels exceeding the MRL.

In the light of this state of affairs:

What sanctions will the Commission impose on Morocco for repeatedly sending shipments of foodstuffs that break EU plant health rules?

Submitted:16.4.2024

1 https://www.lavanguardia.com/comer/al-dia/20240408/9590190/alerta-melones-marruecos-alto-contenido-

residuos-pesticidas.html

Answer given by Ms Kyriakides on behalf of the European Commission (6 June 2024)

Thanks to a very robust set of legislation, the EU has one of the highest standards to keep food and feed safe. The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) was established to ensure a quick exchange of information between Member States to support swift reaction by food safety authorities in case of risks to public health resulting from the food chain.

As for the incident related to strawberries, the Commission liaised with the Moroccan authorities so that they could determine the origin of this contamination but also the necessary corrective measures to avoid recurrence of such an incident.

According to Regulation (EU) 2017/625 (2), Member States must carry out official controls and enforcement activities at all stages of production, including at the stage of import. This ensures that products that are not in compliance with the respective legislation are removed from the market.

In case of imports of food not meeting the EU requirements, the Commission may take measures through Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793 (3) which may include checks at border control posts at harmonised frequencies taking into account available information related to risks and instances of non-compliance and other factor s (4) provided by Member States.

The Commission continues to monitor the situation, but fruits and vegetables from Morocco are currently not subject to measures under Regulation (EU) 2019/1793.

1 ∙ ⸱ https://www.lavanguardia.com/comer/al-dia/20240408/9590190/alerta-melones-marruecos-alto-contenido-residuos-pesticidas.html

2 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32017R0625

3 ∙ ⸱ https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2019/1793/oj

4 ∙ ⸱ Commission Notice on information related to risks and non-compliance in the context of periodic reviews of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU)

2019/1793, OJ C 265, 11.7.2022, p. 1-7.