High pesticide residue content in certain fruits and vegetable import prompt UAE ban

  DUBAI – Starting on May 15, the UAE will implement a fruit and vegetable import ban on five countries but the move is not expected to affect local food supplies or prices, according to the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. Sultan Bin Alwan Al Habsi, Assistant Under Secretary for Regions, said the ban is aimed at protecting consumer health and “will not have any significant impact on the markets, both in terms of quantity or variety and the public need not be worried”. The UAE is banning imported fruits and vegetables that exceed maximum residue limits of pesticides. Countries affected by the ban include Egypt, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and Yemen. "The ministry has decided to ban some vegetables and fruits from select countries as a proactive step and precautionary measure to avoid a potential future danger to the health of consumers without affecting the availability and prices of banned products,” Al Habsi said. Al Habsi said the UAE can still tap alternative sources of fruit and vegetables from Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Netherlands, Malaysia, New Zealand, America, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran, Turkey, France, Italy, and Spain. Locally grown fruits and vegetables such as zucchini, pepper and eggplant also pour in a total supply of more than 40,000 tonnes into the UAE market. “The existing products in the local markets are safe and do not pose direct threat to consumers’ health. The pesticide residues will not have effect unless the products containing residues are continuously kept for long time," Al Habsi said. DAJ/Expat 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