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At the turn of December and January the CAFIA inspectors took 20 samples of apples 15 of which originated in Poland and 5 in the Czech Republic. All twenty samples were subjected to laboratory analyses aimed at detecting the presence of streptomycin residues which can prove that the Hortocyna ® 18 SP preparation was used during the treatment of apples.

This preparation must not be used for plant protection within the European Union just because of streptomycin that is part of the preparation and that could remain in the fruit in residual amounts. Up to the end of the year 2004 Poland had its own regulation allowing to use the Hortocyna preparation. However, as of 1 January 2005 its use for plant protection was prohibited even in Poland.

The laboratory analyses, using very sensitive ELISA method, distinguishing the presence of streptomycin already from amount of 0.001mg/kg, proved that none of the samples taken contained residues of this substance. Once again, it was confirmed that complaints concerning the safety of Polish apples and their supposed insufficient inspection, repeated in the media, were not reasonable.