Gwangju City is intensifying field inspections to ensure the safe harvest of eco-friendly agricultural products, focusing on the use of banned substances such as synthetic pesticides and the potential drift of pesticides from adjacent farmlands.
The city plans to allocate 810 million won for residual pesticide testing before products are shipped, aiming to identify any risks at the production stage and ensure that only compliant agricultural products reach the market.
According to Gwangju City on September 15, the city and local governments are conducting joint field inspections of eco-friendly rice aggregation areas in collaboration with the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service, coinciding with the peak season for pest control and agricultural product shipments.
Key inspection targets include compliance with certification standards regarding the use of banned substances in eco-friendly agriculture and the implementation of preventive measures to avoid unintended contamination from pesticide drift.
For areas where joint pest control is conducted, inspectors will verify whether prior notifications were made, the materials used, and the actual pest control processes.
Additionally, the city plans to confirm the use of organic agricultural materials and product labeling in the presence of representatives from the farming groups to prevent the use of non-compliant materials during pest control.
Management measures will also be strengthened to prevent unintended contamination from pesticides applied on conventional farms adjacent to certified eco-friendly fields. This includes implementing buffer zones and barriers to reduce pesticide drift.
The city is also investing in safety inspections at the shipping stage.
Gwangju City will support 810 million won for residual pesticide testing before products are distributed, aiming to identify risks early and ensure that only compliant products are shipped.
Particularly, farms supplying eco-friendly certified products to school meal providers and those involved in public rice reserve purchases will be prioritized for support, ensuring that safety inspections are conducted smoothly during the peak harvest and shipping period.
Kim Young-seok, head of the Eco-Friendly Agriculture Division at Gwangju City, stated, “During the harvest season, pest control and agricultural product shipments occur simultaneously, so we will strengthen on-site safety management and residual pesticide testing.” He added, “We will enhance the management system from production to distribution to improve the safety of eco-friendly agricultural products and consumer trust.”
Meanwhile, it is crucial for eco-friendly agricultural products to comply with certification standards not only during production but also through the harvesting and shipping stages. This includes managing the direct use of pesticides and unintended contamination from surrounding conventional farms. Gwangju City plans to strengthen safety management for eco-friendly certified agricultural products by linking field inspections with residual pesticide testing before shipping.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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