RESIDUE OF PESTICIDES IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IMPORTED FOR CONSUMPTION IN KOSOVO MARKET

Residue of the pesticides in the fruits we consume on daily basis, in particular in those food items which are not produced in our country and therefore their production is unknown to us, has been and will remain the biggest challenge for our quality control institutions, responsible for protection of health of our consumers. Taking into account constant increase in use of chemical substances – pesticides, then failure to comply with instructions on use, carenza of each pesticide, overdose caused by producers aiming more successful protection – all of these factors are daily increasing the level of risk for our consumers. Having in mind the situation of agricultural production in the territory of Kosovo with its destroyed post-war economy and considering the fact that our local agricultural production hardly covers 30% of our total consume needs; it is natural that such deficit is being covered with imported goods from abroad.