Pesticide in Ukrainian Grain in Kolarovo Mill Confirmed in Third Tested Sample

Bratislava, May 2 (TASR) - A third sample from the Ukrainian grain stored in a mill in Kolarovo has tested positive for a pesticide that is banned in the EU, interim Agriculture Minister Jan Vlcan reported on Tuesday. According to the minister, the testing of the third sample was carried out in Copenhagen, and it confirmed the presence of a banned pesticide in a concentration of 0.024 milligrams per kilogram. Vlcan clarified that the most recent testing proved the presence of the same pesticide that was previously detected in the grain by tests carried out in Slovakia. Nevertheless, the minister assured the public that no contamination of flour or other foodstuffs has occurred in Slovakia. The minister noted that the two previous tests showed pesticide concentrations of 0.026 and 0.019 mg/kg, respectively, with the first one being carried out by the State Veterinary and Food Administration and the second one by a private laboratory. Vlcan noted that the mill has been forbidden from processing the grain and is expected to announce how the commodity will be disposed of. According to the minister, the options include burning, processing in a biogas plant and being used for further technical treatment. zel/df