Excess pesticide levels found in fourth shipment of Argentine sunseed to Bulgaria

UkrAgroConsult

In Bulgaria, another case of excessive pesticide residues has been detected in a shipment of Argentine sunflower seeds delivered by a fourth vessel. Laboratory analyses showed malathion levels around four times above the permitted limit, while deltamethrin was nearly three times higher. The samples were taken by inspectors from the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) directly at the port during import controls.

In total, four shipments of Argentine sunflower seeds, exceeding 160,000 tonnes, have already arrived in the country. Sampling is carried out at the port before unloading, allowing authorities to quickly identify quality violations in imported raw materials. Previous laboratory tests of the first three vessels also revealed pesticide residues exceeding regulatory limits by 2–5 times.

Bulgarian control authorities are monitoring the movement of imported sunflower seeds throughout the entire supply chain — from port storage to processing and subsequent sale or export. The checks are coordinated with customs and other state institutions to ensure compliance and product safety.

The importer has provided written assurances that the processed product will not enter the EU food market. It will either be exported to third countries where such pesticide levels are permitted or used for technical purposes, including biodiesel production.

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Tags: Bulgaria, sunseed, Argentina