Pesticides residues in food products in Brazil: Considerations about PARA monitoring (2001-2018)

Abstract

This paper aims to analyse the challenges and advances in relation to the monitoring of pesticide residues in food products in Brazil, through the reports of the Program for Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Food Products (PARA), made available by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA). All available reports (2001 to 2018) were analysed. The results indicate, on average, 63% of the foods consumed by Brazilians, and which were analysed by PARA, have some type of pesticide residue. In addition, the most commercialized active ingredients in Brazil (Glyphosate and 2,4-D) only timidly entered the analysis in 2017. The number of samples analysed in the whole period represents less than half of what has been analysed, per year, in the European Union. Furthermore, the data show that the most detected pesticides over the years in PARA, such as carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, and acephate, are prohibited for use in the European Union and the Maximum Residue Limits established in Brazil have significant differences when they are compared to European countries. However, it is noteworthy that since its implementation, the program has achieved important progress and is a fundamental instrument for thinking about environmental injustices, the human right to adequate food, and the need to value organic and agroecological production.

Keywords: Pesticides; PARA; Food; Maximum Residue Limits.