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The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority, analysing the samples of apples imported in the Czech Republic from Poland, did not detect any residues of active substances Ethrel 480L or Hortocyna 18 SP. The potential contamination was reported at the end of the last year by the Czech Union of Fruit Farmers. However, nor the controls or analyses of samples taken confirmed the presence of residues of those substances.

The active agent of the Hortocyna 18 SP pesticide is streptomycin, which has no limit set for apples in the Czech regulations, therefore its residues should not be detected at all in this commodity. If the good farming practice is observed, the above pesticide is used to spray apple trees in blossom. Its degradation proceeds then so fast that it is very unlikely that streptomycin occurs in the crop.

Ethephon is an active substance contained in the Ethrel 480L pesticide, identical to Ethrel (it is sold in the Czech market under an altered commercial name by the same producer). On the other hand, Ethrel is listed in the Register of Approved Substances and, therefore the information about its prohibited use in the Czech Republic is not true. Unlike in Poland where Ethrel can be applied in minimum amount (120 ml/ha) in order to improve taking on the crop colour at the latest 14 days prior to harvesting, the Czech Phytopathologic Authority allows to use the substance for apple tree spraying in the amount of 0.5 l/ha. The manufacturer recommends applying the pesticide in the first decade of June.

CAFIA paid extraordinary attention to the controls of apples all through the last year: three nationwide official inspections, controlled from the headquarters, were carried out. The inspectors took altogether 50 batches of consumable apples, of which 26 were of the Polish origins.

In addition to analyses for the contents of pesticide residues, CAFIA also focused on the controls of quality. The inspectors analysed a total of 1078 batches of consumable apples, of which approx. 22% did not comply with quality requirements.

CAFIA is prepared to keep on controlling both the domestic and imported apples.