Busan is good

2026 First-Half Agricultural Produce Pesticide Residue Inspection Results Show 99.6% Compliance

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Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment announced that it conducted pesticide residue safety inspections on 2,404 agricultural products, including auction produce brought into the Eomgung and Banyeo Agricultural Wholesale Markets and agricultural products distributed through retail markets during the first half of this year. The results showed that 99.6% (2,394 samples) met the applicable safety standards.

Among the inspected products, 10 cases (0.4%) across eight product categories were found to be non-compliant. Of these, nine cases involved auction produce brought into the Eomgung and Banyeo Agricultural Wholesale Markets, while one case involved a product distributed through retail markets.

By product category, leafy vegetables accounted for the largest share, with seven cases across five products. The remaining cases included one root vegetable, one herb, and one fruit vegetable other than cucurbits that exceeded the maximum residue limits for pesticides.

The non-compliant products were:
① Leafy vegetables: lettuce (2 cases), spinach (2 cases), Swiss chard (1 case), rapeseed greens (1 case), and chicory (1 case)
② Root vegetables: carrot (1 case)
③ Herbs: Korean mint leaf (1 case)
④ Fruit vegetables other than cucurbits: eggplant (1 case)

A total of 11 pesticide residue detections involving nine pesticide ingredients were identified in the non-compliant products. Among them, insecticides accounted for the largest share, with seven detections involving five ingredients, including phorate and terbufos. Fungicides accounted for three detections involving three ingredients, including carbendazim, while one detection involved the herbicide methabenzthiazuron.

The Institute immediately notified the relevant authorities of the 10 agricultural products that exceeded the maximum residue limits and requested that administrative measures be taken in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Lee Yong-joo, Director of the Busan Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment, said, “To ensure the safety of the food consumed by our citizens, we conduct continuous pesticide residue inspections on agricultural products sold through wholesale auctions and retail distribution channels in Busan. During the second half of the year, we will continue to focus our inspections on seasonally high-consumption agricultural products and products with a history of non-compliance, making every effort to promptly prevent non-compliant products from reaching consumers.”