The use of pesticides in agriculture has brought a significant increase in the production of food products, but the presence of pesticide residues in the final product is undesirable due to the harmful effect on human health (potentially teratogenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic).
For this reason, it is important to constantly check the levels of pesticide residues and their metabolites in food.
The variety of matrices and compounds belonging to different groups of pesticides have caused a large number of different sample preparation methods, as well as methods for determining pesticide residues (MultiResidual Method, Single Residual Method, etc.).
Therefore, a compromise is necessary between the number of determined compounds, their levels of determination, and the time , work and cost invested, as well as the complexity of the used analytical equipment required for determination in a certain matrix.
SP Laboratorija has been determining pesticide residues for many years, simultaneously improving analytical methods and expanding the range of parameters.
In order to follow trends, changes within the regulations of the Republic of Serbia, EU regulations as well as market requirements, SP Laboratorija is permanently expanding the list of pesticide residues through its flexible scope of accreditation, within which it has been conducting these tests since 2015:
List of accredited activities within the flexible scope of accreditation
SP Laboratorija determines pesticide residues in food and animal feed. In order to make it easier for customers to choose the scope of testing, the laboratory created lists (S, M, L, XL, XXL) of pesticide residues. Below are the lists for fruits and vegetables, oilseeds and cereals, baby food, and for other test items, please contact the laboratory via email: splaboratorija@splaboratorija.rs. All listed active substances are covered by the multiresidual method (MRM), while certain active substances that require a specific method of preparation and analysis are examined separately. The list of those active substances is below:
· Dithiocarbamates – expressed as CS2, including ziram, thiram, maneb, mancozeb, propineb and methiram
· AMPA, Ethephon, Glyphosate, Glufosinate-ammonium, Maleic hydrazide
· Chlormequat, Paraquat, Diquat, Mepiquat
· Aminoalcohol-Diethanolamine, Aminoalcohol-Morpholine, Aminoalcohol-Triethanolamine, Amitrole, Matrine
· Chlorates/Perchlorates
· Fosetyl-Al (sum fosetyl/phosphonic acid)
The scope of pesticide residue testing is left as a choice to the customer, which is directly related to the future purpose of the given product or raw material (processing, sale, export, certification, etc.). Taking into account the sensitivity of the population group, it is recommended that baby food be checked for the content of pesticide residues on the largest scale (List XXL).
The laboratory constantly monitors market requirements and harmonizes work with current regulations and the lists are subject to change. Up-to-date versions of the list are available at any time on the laboratory’s website, as well as at the request of customers.
Fruits and vegetables
Oilseeds and cereals
