AGROCHEMICALS AND SAFE FOOD There are low toxicity substances and others that involve risks for human health. For this reason, governments all over the world have enforced specific legislation. By Beatriz Almada Ackermann *

Pesticides, also called agrochemicals or plant protection products, are compounds that are applied to crops to protect them from pests and diseases and increase yields. Among them, there are low toxicity substances and others –that in certain concentrations- have carcinogenic risks or may cause endocrine disorders. For this reason, governments around the world have developed specific legislation.

COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH In order to ensure that food is fit for consumption, competent authorities rule and control the use of these substances. Food safety agencies as well as public health, environment and labor institutions participate in this task. Among the regulations in force, there are requirements and conditions for registering

and approving the use of a particular product; guidelines for its application, transport, storage and container disposal; and regulations to protect the health of consumers and exposed workers. Environmental protection standards complete the regulatory framework that allows for a safe and responsible use of agrochemicals. CODEX

Codex Alimentarius is an international organization integrated by representatives of governments, scientific institutions and NGOs. Based on analytical studies and plenary debates, it issues standards and guidelines designed to assure the safety and sanitary quality of food worldwide. Member countries take Codex recommendations as the basis for their national food safety policies. Codex Technical Committees work in different areas (contaminants, additives, certification systems, etc.) under the umbrella of FAO (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization) and with the constant advice of its expert panels.

In the case of pesticides, studies and risk analysis are accomplished by the Joint FAO / WHO Committee on Pesticide Residues (JMPR). GAP

Implementing food safety asurance systems is an essential tool in food safety, environmental preservation and human health protection. All responsible production scheme requires the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), which include the principle of "continuous improvement". This principle aims to achieve successive perfecting measures to make the food safety system better and better. Far from the popular imagination, these systems are not expensive or complex mechanisms. A basic GAP outline involves records, training and control schemes.

TOLERANCES Pesticide residues are small amounts of those substances that remain and

accumulate in the food and, when ingested, can affect human or animal health. Tolerance is the maximum accepted as a safe amount of that substance in a food portion so that the product can be used with reasonable harmlessness certainty. Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) are set based on risk assessment, with sufficient scientific and statistical evidence, analyzing toxicity, dosage, application frequency, exposure levels and waiting periods (the period within the effect of active substance decays. EUROPE

In the European Union, only pesticides that have scientifically proven effectiveness in purpose, without producing harmful effects on consumers or workers or the environment can be used. Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005 establishes MRLs of pesticides allowed in food for human or animal consumption. In this context, there are specific rules, periodically revised in the light of new scientific findings, that ratify or rectify the health status of agrochemicals, either changing the MRL in all or certain foods, restricting their use or even banning them. PREVENTION

The European Commission established a program for a sustainable use of pesticides (Directive 2009/128 / EC), which calls upon Member States to adopt national plans "(...) to reduce risks and impact of pesticide use on human health and the environment, while implementing systems of integrated pest management, as well as promoting alternative techniques to reduce dependence on the use of agrochemicals."

USA The use of agrochemicals is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),

the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA). In compliance with the Law on Protection of Food Quality (1996), EPA registers all pesticides in use, evaluates potential effects of new pesticides and their proposed uses, checks food safety measures, controls manufacturers and monitors compliance with relevant regulations.

This agency imposed strict safety measures and restricted the use of substances that affect vulnerable segments of the population.

FDA and USDA control the food supply chain. Their mission includes the continuous monitoring of pesticide residues in food.

(*) Beatriz Almada Ackermann, expert in international trade and food safety. Special report for REVISTA CONTAINER, Cordoba, Argentina, May 2015. Issue # 116, pag. 21-22.