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The overall objective of this proposal is to reach the highest level of consumer health protection by stimulating the transference of research breakthroughs in biosensors to potential end users (administration, agrofood traders and machinery manufacturers), while accomplishing current legislation.
Fresh fruit and vegetables may be harmful due to the presence of pesticide wastes, whose ingestion is the source of a number of diseases (Pesticide Action Network UK, Briefing 3, December 2005). Consequently, European countries have defined the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) permitted for a wide range of pesticide-product combinations. Additionally, Regulation (EC) 396/2005 has established the need to harmonise Community provisions concerning MRLs in/on food and feed of plant origin. So far, agrofood SMEs have outsourced MRL controls, which has proved to be a time and money consuming process. Biosensor-based systems represent an alternative to perform those quantitative measurements of pesticides in a fast, automatic, cost-effective manner.
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In order to achieve this objective, BIODET will study SME requirements in order to carry out this type of on-site MRL controls within their quality control process. Afterwards, the product data and market requirement data will be analysed. Finally, the conclusions drawn from this analysis will establish the basis to assemble and disseminate future strategies among key stakeholders.
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In short, BIODET aims at: <LI>
Potential users (farmers): up-taking of available technology on MRL controls.
<LI> Regulation authorities: supporting policy development and harmonisation of existing national legislation.
<LI> Product developers: passing info on users' needs and policy requirements.
<LI> Academia: opening new research fields based on technology gaps.
<LI> Consumers: ensuring a high level of food quality and safety in all Europe.
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For more information about this project, please visit the <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/research/biosociety/food_quality/projects/166_en.ht…; target="_blank">European Commission Food Quality and Safety in Europe</a> Web site.