Post by Trade facilitator on May 3, 2023 23:56:28 GMT 1
Complete Destruction: Portugal Destroys Cucumber Shipment Imported from Morocco Due To Oxamyl Exceeding Maximum Residue Level (MRL)
– Important Lesson for Nigerian Commodity Exporters! No Refund, No Rebate, Complete Destruction.
Portuguese authorities have destroyed a shipment of cucumbers imported from Morocco to prevent it from ending up in markets across the European country, emerging reports have indicated.
The country had notified the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) that the particular cucumber shipment contained pesticide residues in excess of permitted levels, particularly oxamyl, the reports noted.
The destroyed Moroccan cucumbers are said to have contained traces of the oxamyl pesticide in a proportion far exceeding its Maximum Residue Level (MRL), set at the minimum laboratory detectable level of 0.01 mg/kg - ppm, said RASFF notification 2023.2642, quoted by Hortinfo.
According to the RASFF notification, the alert from the Portuguese authorities was “potentially serious,” due to the consequences that the residue could have on consumers.
What lesson can Nigerian farmers and relevant government agencies in charge of exporting farm produce learn from this?
The lesson is simple, nobody sabotages your efforts in international trade, if you do the wrong thing no matter who you are or the country you are exporting from; stiff penalty will be meted to you.
Oxamyl is considered as a powerful insecticide, acaricide, and nematicide against pests in the soil and on plant foliage.
Among the dangerous effects this toxic substance can have on the human body are headaches, dizziness, chest discomfort, confusion, blurred vision, sweating, nausea, colic, constriction of the pupils, or bradycardia (weak pulse).
Depending on the dose absorbed and the frequency of exposure to the product, oxamyl can, in the most serious cases, ultimately lead to blindness or even death.
Morocco exported 20,000 tonnes of cucumbers to foreign markets in 2022, notably to the EU, which remains among the top importers of Moroccan cucumbers.
The North African country’s exportation of cucumbers more than tripled over the past five years, according to the agriculture-focused website, EastFruit, with a volume amounting to 3,450 tonnes only in January 2023.
Meanwhile, Spain tops the list of importers of Moroccan cucumbers, with over half of the export volume to the EU, despite the soaring prices of food products in Morocco.
What is Oxamyl and how dangerous can it be?
Oxamyl is a chemical used as a pesticide that comes in two forms: granulated and liquid. The granulated form has been banned in the United States. It is commonly sold under the trade name Vydate. Wikipedia
Formula: C7H13N3O3S
Molar mass: 219.26 g·mol−1
CompTox Dashboard (EPA): DTXSID6021086
Density: 0.97 g/cm3
It is classified as an extremely hazardous substance in the United States as defined in Section 302 of the U.S. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (42 U.S.C. 11002), and is subject to strict reporting requirements by facilities that produce, store, or use it in significant quantities.
According to Wikipedia, Oxamyl is a carbamate pesticide. According to the WHO Food and Agriculture Organization, "Oxamyl is a colourless crystalline solid with a melting point of 100-102 °C changing to a dimorphic form with a melting point of 108-110 °C. It has a slightly sulfurous odour. Oxamyl is non-corrosive. It has a specific gravity of 0.97 (25°/4°)."
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, "This product is efficient in controlling most nematode species in addition to a large number of sucking and chewing insects such as aphids and thrips." Oxamyl is extremely toxic to humans whether ingested, inhaled, or in contact with the skin. Its overuse can also lead to residue accumulation in food, though its chemical composition—once coming into contact with the soil—rapidly degrades.
Signs of Oxamyl poisoning include: Malaise, muscle weakness, dizziness, sweating, Headache, salivation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, Miosis with blurred vision, incoordination, muscle twitching and slurred speech—though symptoms can worsen with severe poisoning.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization; "Contact with the skin, inhalation of dust or spray, or swallowing may be fatal".
Because of its toxicity, its use is restricted in the EU/UK with maximum residue limits for apples and oranges being 0.01 mg/kg; and this amount is only allowed because this is the limit of detection.
Addendum:
Our company is one of the best companies in the Agro-Export business in Nigeria today. We train individuals and corporate organizations on how to do Export Business the right way; if you are interested, please contact the admin of this forum now for further details.
– Important Lesson for Nigerian Commodity Exporters! No Refund, No Rebate, Complete Destruction.
Portuguese authorities have destroyed a shipment of cucumbers imported from Morocco to prevent it from ending up in markets across the European country, emerging reports have indicated.
The country had notified the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) that the particular cucumber shipment contained pesticide residues in excess of permitted levels, particularly oxamyl, the reports noted.
The destroyed Moroccan cucumbers are said to have contained traces of the oxamyl pesticide in a proportion far exceeding its Maximum Residue Level (MRL), set at the minimum laboratory detectable level of 0.01 mg/kg - ppm, said RASFF notification 2023.2642, quoted by Hortinfo.
According to the RASFF notification, the alert from the Portuguese authorities was “potentially serious,” due to the consequences that the residue could have on consumers.
What lesson can Nigerian farmers and relevant government agencies in charge of exporting farm produce learn from this?
The lesson is simple, nobody sabotages your efforts in international trade, if you do the wrong thing no matter who you are or the country you are exporting from; stiff penalty will be meted to you.
Oxamyl is considered as a powerful insecticide, acaricide, and nematicide against pests in the soil and on plant foliage.
Among the dangerous effects this toxic substance can have on the human body are headaches, dizziness, chest discomfort, confusion, blurred vision, sweating, nausea, colic, constriction of the pupils, or bradycardia (weak pulse).
Depending on the dose absorbed and the frequency of exposure to the product, oxamyl can, in the most serious cases, ultimately lead to blindness or even death.
Morocco exported 20,000 tonnes of cucumbers to foreign markets in 2022, notably to the EU, which remains among the top importers of Moroccan cucumbers.
The North African country’s exportation of cucumbers more than tripled over the past five years, according to the agriculture-focused website, EastFruit, with a volume amounting to 3,450 tonnes only in January 2023.
Meanwhile, Spain tops the list of importers of Moroccan cucumbers, with over half of the export volume to the EU, despite the soaring prices of food products in Morocco.
What is Oxamyl and how dangerous can it be?
Oxamyl is a chemical used as a pesticide that comes in two forms: granulated and liquid. The granulated form has been banned in the United States. It is commonly sold under the trade name Vydate. Wikipedia
Formula: C7H13N3O3S
Molar mass: 219.26 g·mol−1
CompTox Dashboard (EPA): DTXSID6021086
Density: 0.97 g/cm3
It is classified as an extremely hazardous substance in the United States as defined in Section 302 of the U.S. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (42 U.S.C. 11002), and is subject to strict reporting requirements by facilities that produce, store, or use it in significant quantities.
According to Wikipedia, Oxamyl is a carbamate pesticide. According to the WHO Food and Agriculture Organization, "Oxamyl is a colourless crystalline solid with a melting point of 100-102 °C changing to a dimorphic form with a melting point of 108-110 °C. It has a slightly sulfurous odour. Oxamyl is non-corrosive. It has a specific gravity of 0.97 (25°/4°)."
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, "This product is efficient in controlling most nematode species in addition to a large number of sucking and chewing insects such as aphids and thrips." Oxamyl is extremely toxic to humans whether ingested, inhaled, or in contact with the skin. Its overuse can also lead to residue accumulation in food, though its chemical composition—once coming into contact with the soil—rapidly degrades.
Signs of Oxamyl poisoning include: Malaise, muscle weakness, dizziness, sweating, Headache, salivation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, Miosis with blurred vision, incoordination, muscle twitching and slurred speech—though symptoms can worsen with severe poisoning.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization; "Contact with the skin, inhalation of dust or spray, or swallowing may be fatal".
Because of its toxicity, its use is restricted in the EU/UK with maximum residue limits for apples and oranges being 0.01 mg/kg; and this amount is only allowed because this is the limit of detection.
Addendum:
Our company is one of the best companies in the Agro-Export business in Nigeria today. We train individuals and corporate organizations on how to do Export Business the right way; if you are interested, please contact the admin of this forum now for further details.
