Qatar ups pesticide testing after UAE produce ban

Qatar has followed the UAE’s ban on the imports of select fruits and vegetables from some countries by upping its own pesticide testing, according to reports.

The UAE ban, which is due to dangerous pesticide residues found in some produce from Egypt, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon and Yemen, comes into effect from May 15.

Read: UAE to ban produce from select Middle East countries in May

Qatar publication The Peninsula reports that the country’s Ministry of Public Health has issued a circular to all ports in the country asking them to only release consignments from Lebanon, Oman, Egypt and Jordan after pesticide analysis.

Products listed for further analysis include pepper from Egypt; pepper, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, squash, beans and eggplant from Jordan; apples from Lebanon and sweet melon, carrots and watercress from Oman, according to the publication.

The ministry issued a statement saying 510 fruit and vegetable samples had been analysed in the first quarter of which 67 were rejected because of dangerous pesticide levels.

Retailers are said to be expecting price variation and shortages of some produce following the introduction of the new controls, particularly because many fruits come to the country through the UAE.

Earlier this week, Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries said 98 per cent of the produce it sampled had conformed with international pesticide limits and it would be communicating with UAE authorities to resolve the problem.

Read: Oman says 98% of produce within pesticide limits after UAE ban

Ministry officials later met with the UAE’s ambassador to the sultanate.