NEW REQUIREMENTS OF LARGE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES RETAILERS

Sa？etak Fruits and vegetables on the market must fulfil the minimum market standards and must be safe for customers. Their look, taste, odour, and packaging are regularly controlled when accepting fresh fruits and vegetables at their logistics centres of large retailers. Recently, sampling frequency of fresh fruit and vegetables is increasing, as well as laboratory analysis for pesticide residues. In addition to these minimum standards, some large retailers require additional quality and health food safety requirements. These demands are not a legal obligation of the farmer, but are a precondition for business cooperation with some retailers. They imply more rigorous control of fruit and vegetable look and taste, as well as additional limitations on pesticide use (limiting the number of active substances of pesticides and stipulation of pesticide residue limit bellow MRL