40 N. East Street, Suite B Woodland, CA 95776 (530) 666-6890 Fax: (530) 666-2987
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Specializing in Pesticide Residue Analysis...
Environmental Residue Analysis
Import/Export Support Services
EPA Method 8081A Reporting Limits
EPA Method 8141A Reporting Limits
The difference in pesticide regulations between trading partners can be a major impediment to international trade. Pesticide tolerances are established by most of the developed countries. Each individual commodity has individual approved pesticides and the levels which are allowable. If the level of a pesticide is over the allowable limit, or is one which is not allowed, then the commodity cannot be legally sold.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency sets tolerances (legal allowable limits) for 371 pesticides in Food. European countries, on the other hand, generally follow the CODEX ALIMENTARIUS, which allows 224 pesticides to be present on some food commodities. The sets of pesticides that are accepted by CODEX and the US are different. While the US regulates 150 pesticides that are not OK in European Markets, the CODEX still has 92 pesticides that are not legal on any commodity in the US.
The US Food and Drug Administration has stepped up its pesticide monitoring in the light of the events of September 11, 2001. The probability of pesticide residue inspection for a particular commodity has dramatically increased in the last couple of years. Where illegal residues are found by the FDA, that shipment of the commodity is refused entry, and the exporter is placed on "Detention Without Examination". This can result in a costly interruption of critical supplies in a processors or distributors process.
To help you ensure that your suppliers do not become listed by the FDA, Environmental Micro Analysis has developed a targeted pesticide residue screen, identical to the testing that is used by the FDA in its Import Testing Program. This FDA Import Screen, is an exclusive offering of Environmental Micro Analysis to help importers protect their reputations and keep their supply lines clean.
Environmental Micro Analysis has just developed an identical analysis procedure to that the FDA uses. We look for the exact same pesticides with the same model equipment, use the same extraction procedures, same clean-up procedures; we even have splits of the mixtures of analytical standards that FDA uses! This should allow us to reach the same detection limits for ALL of the pesticides that the FDA looks for. We even duplicate the same QA/QC procedures as the FDA uses for imported products.
The FDA has also expanded the number of pesticides that they routinely screen for to include pesticides that they did not test for previously. Environmental Micro analysis has included these new compounds in our FDA Import Screen to provide greater assurance to our customers.
(Formerly Automatic Detention)
Once a commodity has been shown to contain an illegal pesticide residue, the shipment is refused entry into the United States, and either must be re-exported to another country or destroyed. US Food and Drug Administration places the EXPORTER of that commodity under its DWE Program. Under the Automatic Detention program, every new shipment from that exporter must be analyzed by a private laboratory for the same illegal pesticide. Only if the new shipment is found to be below established tolerance the Level of Quantification (LOQ) for that pesticide, will the FDA allow it to be released into the channels of trade. Everything from sampling to analytical methodology to reporting must be performed using extremely strict protocols, or the analytical data package will be rejected, subjecting the importer to further delays, or possible refusal of entry. Generally after 5 clean shipments in a row the exporter may petition to be removed from Automatic Detention.
Pesticide residue analysis for imported foods being held under the Food and Drug Administration's Detention Without Examination Program is a specialty of Environmental Micro Analysis. EMA has the expertise to guide you through the complex maze of regulations, and to prepare customized data packages for your commodity or processed food. Our experience gives your commodity the best chance of clearance through the FDA as expeditiously as possible.
Effective May 23, 2006, a whole new system was adopted by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare. On that date, a new "Positive List System" was implemented. Sixty-six of the MRL's (Maximum Residue Limits) for previously regulated compounds were supplemented with provisional MRL's for 472 additional Pesticides and 197 Veterinary Drugs. Violations of the regulations could result not only in rejection of a shipment, but potential black listing of the exporter from Japanese markets.
Environmental Micro Analysis, Inc. is recognized by the Japanese Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare to perform pesticide residue testing for exported food going to Japan (Certificate #21). We have the experience and knowledge of US pesticide registration and use to limit testing to only those classes of compounds which are likely to be present. Not only that, but Environmental Micro Analysis, Inc. now can provide analytical reports written in Japanese, to give our clients' Japanese customers even greater confidence in their products!