1. PESTICIDE RESIDUES
SURVEILLANCE IN FOOD
SPECIAL COUNTRY REPORT
24TH THAILAND-MALAYSIA BORDER HEALTH
GOODWILL COMMITTEE MEETING 2011GOODWILL COMMITTEE MEETING 2011
Presented By: Ong Jean Ling
Senior Assistant Director, Food Safety & Quality Division
Kedah State Health Department

2. OBJECTIVE OF THIS PRESENTATION
To provide an overview of the agencies, legislations
and activities involved in the surveillance and
monitoring of pesticides residues in food in
Malaysia.
To share the outcome of the pesticide residue
monitoring program in year 2010 for domestic
market and imported food in the state of Perlis,
Kedah, Perak and Kelantan.

3. PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FOOD
Pesticide residues finds its way into food in a variety
of methods during food production.
They may be used by farmers to control the growth
of weeds, or prevent crop damage by insects,
rodents and molds. They may be used on food cropsrodents and molds. They may be used on food crops
after harvest to prolong their storage life.
Pesticides may also be used on animal farms to
control insect pests. Sometimes, small amounts of
pesticides used in these ways can be found in or on
foods.

4. PESTICIDE RESIDUE MONITORING
ACTIVITIES IN MALAYSIA
Pesticide residue monitoring activities in Malaysia
involves multiple agencies, with Department of
Agriculture (DOA) under the Ministry of Agriculture and
Agro-based Industries (MOA) ensuring Good
Agricultural Practice (GAP) at the farms and Ministry ofAgricultural Practice (GAP) at the farms and Ministry of
Health (MOH) enforcing food safety at the point of
sale.

5. PESTICIDE RESIDUE MONITORING
ACTIVITIES IN MALAYSIA
Regulation and enforcement of the Pesticide Act 1974
comes under the Pesticide Board Malaysia, which
requires that all pesticides must be registered with the
board before it can be imported or manufactured for
use in Malaysia.use in Malaysia.
Ministry of Health has been given the mandate to
ensure the safety of food sold in the country under the
Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985.

6. LEGISLATION FRAMEWORK
Legislations enacted to control various aspect of
pesticide application in crops and food products
are:
The Pesticide Act 1974, which is the principle
legislation for control of pesticides in Malaysia. It islegislation for control of pesticides in Malaysia. It is
being implemented by the Pesticide Board of Malaysia
which comprises various heads of government agencies.
The Food Act 1983 of which Sixteenth Schedule of its
Food Regulations 1985 prescribe the maximum residue
levels (MRL) of pesticide in food.

7. THE PESTICIDES ACT 1974
Subsidiary Legislation being enforced:
i. Pesticides (Registration) Rules 1976
ii. Pesticides (Importation for Research & Education
Purposes) Rules 1981 (Amendment 1987)
iii. Pesticides (Labeling) Regulation 1984iii. Pesticides (Labeling) Regulation 1984
iv. Pesticides (Licensing For Sale and Storage For
Sale) Rules 1988
v. Pesticides (Highly Toxic Pesticides) Regulation
1996, (Amendment 2004)
vi. Pesticides (Advertisements) Regulation 1996
vii. Pesticides (Pest Control Operators) Rule 2004

8. THE PESTICIDES BOARD OF MALAYSIA
Pesticide Control Division, under the Department of
Agriculture (DOA), Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-
Based Industries (MOA) serves as the secretariat to
the Pesticides Board of Malaysia.
It’s primary function is to regulate and enforce theIt’s primary function is to regulate and enforce the
Pesticide Act 1974.
The main activities carried out by the Division are
registration of pesticide products, licensing of
premises, controlling advertisement, issuing import
permits for research purposes, regulating the labels
and enforcement of the act.

9. PESTICIDE REGISTRATION
A new pesticide has to be registered with the
Pesticide Board of Malaysia before it can be
imported or manufactured for use in Malaysia.
Objective of registration is to ensure that pesticidesObjective of registration is to ensure that pesticides
imported, manufactured, processed, sold and used
are of good quality, effective for their intended use
and do not cause detrimental effect on human
beings, animals, plants, fruits or properties.

10. FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY DIVISION,
MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA
Main Objective
To protect the public against food related hazards as
well as to motivate and promote the preparation,
handling, distribution, sale and consumption of safe and
quality food.
The main activities carried out by the Division areThe main activities carried out by the Division are
enforcement of the Food Act 1983, monitoring and
research, consumer education, promoting of food safety
to the industry and participation in regional and
international bodies, agencies and organizations to
ensure the needs of a competitive global market are
met.

11. DEFINITION OF PESTICIDE UNDER
FOOD ACT 1983
Under sub-regulation (1), Regulation 41 of Food
Regulations 1985, pesticides residue is defined as
a) any preparation used, or capable or purporting to be
capable of being used, for preventing the attack of or for
destroying –destroying –
i. fungi or other parasitic plants or bacteria that affect or attack
plants, fruits, grains, animals or property;
ii. insects or other pest that affect or attack plants, animals or
property;
iii. noxious animals or noxious birds, or
iv. weeds or other noxious plants and
b) any substance purporting to be pesticide.

12. PROVISIONS FOR PESTICIDE RESIDUES
IN FOOD UNDER FOOD ACT 1983
Sub-regulation (2), Regulation 41 of Food
Regulations 1985 states that no person shall
expose, cause or permit to be exposed, any food,
excluding water, in the course of its preparation,
storage, packaging, delivery, importation orstorage, packaging, delivery, importation or
exposure for sale, to any pesticide, where such
exposure will result in a residue on or in food that is
greater than the amount as set out in the Sixteenth
Schedule.

13. PROVISIONS FOR PESTICIDE RESIDUES
IN FOOD UNDER FOOD ACT 1983
Sub-regulation (3), Regulation 41 of Food
Regulations 1985 states that no person shall
import, prepare for sale or sell any food
a) containing pesticide residue in a proportion greater than
the proportion specified for that food in relation to that
pesticide residue as set out in the Sixteenth Schedule;pesticide residue as set out in the Sixteenth Schedule;
b) containing pesticide residue in a proportion greater than the
proportion specified for that food in relation to that pesticide
residue as recommended in the Codex Alimentarius, where the
pesticide is not specified in the Sixteenth Schedule; or
c) containing more than 0.01 milligram per kilogram of
any pesticide residue, where the pesticide is not specified for
that food in the Sixteenth Schedule or Codex Alimentarius

14. LIST OF PESTICIDE UNDER SIXTEENTH
SCHEDULE OF FOOD REGULATIONS 1985
2,4-D
Abamctin
Acephate
Acetamiprid
Alachlor
Ametryn
Amitraz
Anilofos
BPMC
Bromacil
Bromopropylate
Buprofezin
Butocarboxim
Cadusafos
Captan
Carbaryl
Chlorpyrifod
Cinosulforon
Clethodim
Coumaphos
Cyclosulfamuron
Cyfluthrin
Cyhalothrin
Cymoxanil
Difenoconazole
Diflubenzuron
Dimethoate
Dimethomorph
Dithiocarbamates
Diuron
DSMA
Emamectin benzoate
Fenpyroximate
Fenthion
Fenvalerate
Fipronil
Fluazifop-butyl
Flufenacet
Flufenixuron
FluroxypyrAnilofos
Atrazine
Azadirachtin
Azoxystrobin
Bendiocarb
Benomyl
Bensulfuron-methyl
Bentazone
Bispyribac sodium
Bitertanol
Carbaryl
Carbendazim
Barbofuran
Carbosulfan
Cartap
Chinomethional
Chlorfenapyr
Chlorfluzuron
Chlorimuron ethyl
Chlorothanil
Cymoxanil
Cypermethrin
Cyproconazole
Cyromazine
Deltamethrin
Diafenthiuron
Diazinon
Dicamba
Dichlovos
Dicofol
Emamectin benzoate
Endisulfan
EPTC
Ethixysulfuron
Etofenprox
Famaxadone
Fenapiphos
Fenitrothion
Fenoxapro-p-ethyl
Fenoxycarb
Fluroxypyr
Flutolanil
Formetanate hydrochloride
Formothion
Fosetyl aluminium
Furathiocarb
Glufosinate amonium
Glyphosate
Hexaconazole
Hexazinox

15. LIST OF PESTICIDE UNDER SIXTEENTH
SCHEDULE OF FOOD REGULATIONS 1985
Hydrogen Phosphide
Imazapyr
Imazethapyr
Imidachlorprid
Inorganic bromide
Iprodione
Iprovalicard
Isazofos
Methamidophos
Methidathion
Metolachlor
Metribuzin
Metsulfuron methyl
Molinate
Monocrotophos
MSMA
Pencycuron
Pendimethalin
Permethrin
Phenthoate
Phoxim
Picloram
Pirimiphos-methyl
Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl
Pyrethrum
Pyridaben
Quinalphos
Quinchlorac
Quintozene
Quizalofop-ethyl
Sethoxydim
Thiocyclam-
hydrogen oxalate
Thiometon
Tolclofos-methyl
Tralomethrin
Triadimenol
TriazophosIsazofos
Isoprocarb
Isoprothiolane
Lufenuron
Malathion
MCPS
Mepronil
Mercaptodimethur
Metalaxyl
Metaldehyde
MSMA
MTMC
Myclobutanil
Ofurace
Oxadiargyl
Oxadiazon
Oxadixyl
Oxycarboxin
Oxyfluorfen
Paraquat
Pretilachlor
Prochloraz
Profenofos
Propamocarb
Propanil
Propargite
Propiconazole
Propoxur
Prothiofos
Pymetrozine
Sethoxydim
Silafluofen
Spinosad
Tebuconazole
Tebufenozide
Teflubenzuron
Terbuthylazine
Tetradifon
Thiamethoxam
Thiobencarb
Triazophos
Triadimenol
Triazophos
Trichlorfon
Triclopyr
Tridemorph
Triflumuron
Viclozolin

16. OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
Under Section 13 of the Food Act 1983:
1) Any person who prepares or sells any food
that has in or upon it any substances which
is poisonous, harmful or otherwise injuriousis poisonous, harmful or otherwise injurious
to health commits an offence and shall be
liable, on conviction, to a fine not
exceeding one hundred thousand ringgit
(RM100,000.00) or to imprisonment for a
term not exceeding ten years or both

17. MINISTRY OF HEALTH PESTICIDE
RESIDUE MONITORING PROGRAM
Involves sampling of domestically produced and
imported foods and analysis of these foods for
pesticide residues.
Malaysian Ministry of Health establishes monitoring
priorities through development of an annual Nationalpriorities through development of an annual National
Work Plan, which is a comprehensive sampling plan
implemented nationwide.
The sampling plan is designed to give coverage for
sampling and analyses of various category food
products and testing parameters, including pesticide
residue in food items.

18. MINISTRY OF HEALTH PESTICIDE
RESIDUE MONITORING PROGRAM
Domestic samples are taken from retail outlets in
domestic markets such as wet market, supermarkets,
hypermarkets, etc. while import samples are taken
at the entry points.
Legal action is being taken for cases of violations inLegal action is being taken for cases of violations in
the domestic markets while for food consignments,
they are subjected to Level 5 Inspection at the entry
point (Hold, Test and Release). If found to
contravene, the consignments were sent back to the
respective exporting countries.

19. SCREENING OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES
IN FOOD ITEMS
Pesticide residue screening and analysis in food items is
being conducted by:
The Food Safety and Quality Laboratory (FSQL) and the
Public Health Laboratories (PHL) under the Ministry of
Health (MOH),Health (MOH),
Department of Chemistry’s Laboratories under the Ministry
of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI)
These laboratories are located at strategic locations in
the countries to support surveillance and monitoring
activities carried out for the domestic market and
imported food.

20. EXISTING FOOD LABORATORIES UNDER
MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA
EXISTIING FOOD LABORATORIES UNDER MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA
FSQL KELANTAN
(Kota Bahru)
FSQL TERENGGANU
(Kuala Terengganu)
PHL SABAH
(Kota Kinabalu)
FSQL PENANG
FSQL LAKA TEMIN
( Bukit Kayu Hitam)
FSQL PERLIS*
(Kangar)
(Kuala Terengganu)
FSQL PAHANG
(Mentakab)
FSQL SANDAKAN
( Sandakan )
NATIONAL PHL*
(Sg. Buloh)
PHL IPOH
(Butterworth)
FSQL SELANGOR
(Kelang)
PHL JOHORE*
(Johor Bahru)
Note :
FQCL : Food Safety and Quality Laboratory
PHL : Public Health Laboratory
FSQL SARAWAK*
(Kuching)
FSQL Miri

21. TESTING LABORATORIES
Testing laboratories are accredited by the
Department of Standard’s National Laboratories
Accreditation Scheme (Skim Akreditasi Makmal
Malasyia - SAMM) for compliance under the
ISO/IEC Guide 17025 "General Requirements forISO/IEC Guide 17025 "General Requirements for
the Competence of Calibration and Testing
Laboratories."

22. SCREENING OF PESTICIDE RESIDUES
IN FOOD ITEMS
Four (4) major groups of pesticides being routinely
screened are:
Organophosphorus
e.g. Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon, Fenthion , Tolclofos-methyl, Profenofos,
Methamidophos
Organochlorine
e.g. Aldrin, Dichloran, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor
Synthetic pyrethoid
e.g. Cypermethrin, Cyfluthrin, Fenvalerate, Permenthrin
Dithiocarbamates
e.g. Cabaryl, Carbofuran, Thiobencarb

23. COMMON TYPES OF VEGETABLES AND FRUITS
SAMPLED FROM ENTRY POINTS IN PERLIS,KEDAH,
PERAK & KELANTAN IN YEAR 2010
Types of vegetables Examples
Leafy vegetables Kale, green mustard, spinach, celery
Fruit/Flower vegetables Tomato, cucumber, capsicum, cabbage,
eggplant, bitter gourd, gourd, lettuce, broccoli
Tubers Sweet potato, yam
Roots Carrot, asparagus, onion, gingers
Beans, peas and lentils Okra, long beans, peas, winged beans
Others Baby corn, petai, chili pepper, mushrooms
Types of fruits Examples
Citrus Fruits Orange, Pomelo
Assorted tropical and sub-
tropical fruits – edible peel
Guava, Lychee, Pineapple, Papaya, Dokong,
Longan, Watermelon, Pumpkin

24. OVERVIEW ON PESTICIDE RESIDUE MONITORING
PROGRAM FOR DOMESTIC MARKET FOR 2010
STATE
Number of Samples Taken
Number of
samples
detected with
pesticide
residue
Number of
samples
exceeding
MRL
Rate of
contravention
Fruits
Vegetables
Otherfood
(cereal,grains,
etc…)
Total
(cereal,grains,
PERLIS 12 91 0 103 1 0 0.00 %
KEDAH 156 352 0 508 10 4 0.79 %
PERAK 113 295 4 412 20 4 0.97 %
KELANTAN 45 332 5 382 4 1 0.26 %
TOTAL 326 1070 4 1405 35 9 0.64 %

25. OVERVIEW ON PESTICIDE RESIDUE MONITORING
PROGRAM FOR IMPORTED FOOD FOR YEAR 2010
STATE
Number of Samples Taken
Number of
samples
detected with
pesticide
residue
Number of
samples
exceeding
MRL
Rate of
contravention
Fruits
Vegetables
Otherfood
(cereal,grains,
etc…)
Total
(cereal,grains,
PERLIS 234 504 0 738 18 0 0.00 %
KEDAH 91 2348 0 2439 92 6 0.25 %
PERAK 12 32 0 44 4 0 0.00 %
KELANTAN 262 20 0 282 N/A 4 1.41 %
TOTAL 599 2904 0 3503 114 10 0.28 %

26. CONCLUSION
Enforcement of pesticide use and control is a
coordinated effort amongst government
departments and agencies.
Data from both domestic and imported fresh fruitsData from both domestic and imported fresh fruits
and vegetable shows that fresh produced sold in
Malaysia are still safe for consumption.

27. RECOMMENDATION
Existing capacities and capability of the
laboratories involved in surveillance and monitoring
of pesticide residues can be further expanded for
increased efficiency and greater coverage of
testing parameters.testing parameters.
Continuous close collaboration among all the
enforcement agencies involved is to be maintained
and enhanced to ensure the safety and
wholesomeness of food products being sold in the
country.