MAFF urges responsible pesticide use amid EU concerns
MAFF urges responsible pesticide use amid EU concerns
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) has called for responsible pesticide use, urging all stakeholders to prioritize alternatives and replace pesticides with low limits to ensure the sustainability of the Cambodian rice market to the European Union.
Recent reports from the European Union’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed revealed that pesticide residues Acetamiprid, Tricyclazole, Thiamethoxam in Cambodian rice exceeded the applicable EU regulation of 0.01 mg/kg. This new limit applied to 313 out of 517 pesticide-active ingredients used on rice crops, represents a significant reduction from the previous level of 1 mg/kg.
Use of pesticides has been affecting rice exports to the European Union. Recently some Cambodian rice with pesticide residues exceeding the limit was sent back, the ministry’s General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA) mentioned in a notification issued on Monday.
“The GDA would like to call on the Departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in all capitals and provinces, rice production communities, farmers, and all relevant parties to participate in promoting the use of pesticides as the last alternatives by following the technical guidelines on the packaging with a sense of responsibility and high caution,” read the statement.
The GDA is taking several steps to address the issue of pesticide residue exceeding limits in Cambodian rice exported to the EU, including modernizing farming practices, improving rice varieties, and promoting safe export practices.
Preventing pesticide residues exceeding the limit, especially focusing on the use of pesticides can replace pesticides with low limits to ensure the sustainability of the Cambodian rice market to the European Union, it added.
Cambodia had exported 651,522 tonnes of milled rice in 2024, making a total revenue of $491 million, according to a Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) report.
Europe was the major market for Cambodia’s milled rice last year, importing 327,156 tonnes worth $253 million, followed by ASEAN markets 127,076 tonnes worth $92 million, and China 117,925 tonnes worth $75 million.
Chan Sokheang, President of CRF, acknowledged the move, saying that CRF is urging farmers and agriculture cooperatives to practice farming to follow standards set in the importing markets.
“We urge farmers and agriculture cooperatives to use pesticides responsibly, following the technical guidelines from the expert officials at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries and standard limits set by the markets,” Sokheang said.
