Punjab Food Authority Director General Captain (R) Muhammad Usman has directed its technical wing to expand research circle about the effects of pesticide medicines on vegetables and fruits. This direction was issued after meeting with the head of the foreign company at PFA Headquarter here on Thursday.
In the meeting, they have discussed in detail on modern research to get fruitful results in the future. DG informed that PFA will start an awareness campaign for the public especially farmers regarding stop/ abandon the use of pesticide medicines before ripening of crops in order to protect the food consumers from the adverse effects of pesticides. He said that pesticide residuals become causes of health diseases for consumers after remaining on or in food. He said that the research will be spread more fruits and vegetables to know the particles of pesticide residuals. Food authority will collect samples of crops in all seasons.
Usman told that PFA Technical Wing and officials of the Agriculture Department had presented complete research last month which results found satisfactory. According to the report, 29 samples of vegetables out of 30 were found up to the mark in the laboratory test report. He further said that the purpose of the research is to know about the side effects of pesticide medicines on human health which usually used /sprayed in fields to protect vegetables from insects. He said that food authority is determining the use of pesticides amount for food items according to the clause of 7&57 of Punjab Food Authority Act.