Taiwan relaxes insecticide control level on apple

Taipei, Oct. 5 (CNA) A decision by the Department of Health to relax a pesticide residue standard for apples has angered consumer activists, who believe the move may have been the result of pressure imposed by the United States. Taiwan's government previously banned the presence of any residues of the pesticide endosulfan on any apples sold in the country, but it announced Sunday that endosulfan residues of up to 0.5 ppm would now be acceptable. "All apples, whether imported or locally grown, will be subject to the new endosulfan inspection level," said Hsieh Ting-hung, deputy director of the Bureau of Food Safety under the Cabinet-level Department of Health (DOH). Hsieh said the new norm was set after consulting joint standards established by the World Health Organization and the United Nations' Food and Agriculture... [read full story]                    

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