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Modern agriculture has evolved to the extent that consumers now
expect to be able to buy a plentiful supply of food, at a reasonable
price, throughout the year. Farmers and growers often use pesticides
to help them achieve this goal.
However, the compounds used as pesticides for
killing weeds, pests and moulds in crops are often harmful to people,
wildlife and the environment. For this reason the sale and use
of such compounds is very carefully controlled.
 The authorisation of pesticide use is based upon Good Agricultural
Practice (GAP). Yet it is recognised that, even use of GAP may
still result in a crop with a detectable pesticide residue. Authorisation
for the use of a pesticide is only approved if a risk
assessment of residues levels in the crop shows the consumer risk is acceptable.
Maximum residue levels (MRLs) for individual crop/pesticide combinations
are therefore set on the basis of GAP.
The
Maximum (pesticide) Residue Levels allowable in foods are therefore
extensively regulated and frequently redefined in both EU legislation
and Codex.
The latest annual report PRC 2006 Annual Report (pdf) from the UK government sponsored monitoring programme indicated that in the 3562 (2005 - 3787, 2004 - 3854) food samples analysed:
- no pesticide residues were detected in 65.2% of samples (2005 - 68.1%, 2004 - 69%)
- pesticide residues were detected below the MRL in 33.1% of samples (2005 - 30.2%, 2004 - 30%)
- pesticide residues above the MRL were detected in 1.7% of samples (2005 -1.7%, 2004 - 1%).
(Figures in brackets are from 2005 and 2004 Reports).
Eclipse has the capability to determine a wide range of pesticide
residues to ensure that, especially those involved in the food
and drink industries, are in compliance with the frequently changing
legislation.
Should
I contact Eclipse? Click here to find out how we can help you.
Eclipse has been in the
business of pesticide residue testing for over 20 years,
with expertise built up in two parts of the UK where fruits,
vegetable and other agricultural crops are widely grown:
East Anglia – Chatteris, Cambridgeshire (Aspland & James
Limited)
and
Vale of
Evesham – Pershore,
Worcestershire (Restec Laboratories Limited)
Aspland & James Limited was founded
in 1980 and became active in pesticide residue testing in
1983, as part of a general contract laboratory testing service,
predominantly to the food, animal feed agrochemical and pharmaceutical
industry sectors. It became part of the Eclipse Scientific
Group in 1998.
Restec Laboratories Limited was founded
in 1986 and specialised from the start in pesticide residue
testing, supplemented by legislative and other information
services, together with expertise in niche areas such as
tea and tobacco. The firm joined Eclipse in 2003.
Both organisations’ operation
to the highest standards was reflected in extensive UKAS
accreditations and GLP recognitions.
The combined experience
of the two is reflected in the Restec@Eclipse name
applied to our pesticide residue testing business, renowned
as a key provider of a top quality, comprehensive residue
analysis service that includes:
- analysis of individual or groups of pesticides
- targeted pesticide testing
- multi- residue screening
for over 150 compounds,
including the following classes:
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We have access to extensive historical
data as well as being able to call on reliable in-house
expertise when providing testing services, suggesting appropriate
combinations of compounds for testing in commodities or
developing methods for new pesticides or product matrices.
The Pesticide Residue Analysis laboratories
are located in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire.
Analytical techniques used are primarily Gas Chromatography
(GC) and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and
all positive results are confirmed (e.g. by GC-MS or GC-MS-MS).
Methods for virtually all compounds are UKAS accredited.
To keep up with and ahead of the ever greater
demands of pesticide legislation – increasing numbers
of compounds and lower legislative limits (MRLs) – liquid
chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometric detector
(LCMS) is required.
Use of this technology has
enabled Eclipse to analyse products for a wide range of new
compounds that are becoming used commercially, to confidently
achieve lower reporting limits and to rapidly confirm any
residues found that give cause for concern. It has also permitted
us to bring in house analysis of previously sub-contracted
compounds eg chlormequat.
Eclipse also provides extensive support
to help clients in the agrochemical
industry develop analytical tests to detect
new pesticides and their metabolites. |
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