A shipment of bananas destined for the Croatian market was halted due to the presence of chlorpyrifos, a pesticide whose use as a plant protection product is not authorised in the European Union. The shipment, originating from Ecuador, was intended to reach Croatia via Bosnia and Herzegovina but was not released for sale.
The presence of chlorpyrifos was detected in the bananas, with a concentration of 0.022 milligrams per kilogram measured in the sample. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphorus insecticide that acts on the nervous system, with potential harmful effects on the development of the nervous system in children and unborn children during pregnancy.
Following the established irregularity, the destruction of the shipment was ordered, thereby preventing its placement on the Croatian market. The disputed shipment was not distributed on the Croatian market.
The case was reported via the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), which serves to provide rapid warning of risks associated with food and feed. Prescribed maximum residue levels for pesticides apply to food imported from third countries, and shipments that do not meet the relevant requirements may be rejected, withdrawn or destroyed.
The case does not imply that all bananas from Ecuador or bananas sold in Croatian shops are contaminated. The risk relates to the specific shipment in which the irregularity was established.
