The results of grain and flour inspections at the Kolarovo Mill (Nitra region) showed that the flour isn't contaminated or otherwise harmful in terms of the content of pesticides or other prohibited substances. Interim Agriculture Minister Samuel Vlcan announced at a news conference on Monday. According to Vlcan, there is no reason why people should not buy flour from this mill. Across-the-board inspections carried out on all batches of grain imported from Ukraine haven't shown any contamination so far. "We didn't have to withdraw a single kilogram of flour from circulation. We will continue with intensive checks, while the ban on the import of Ukrainian grain is still valid," stressed the minister.
State Veterinary and Food Administration director Jozef Bires said that 26 kinds of flour from the Kolarovo Mill have already been analysed, all samples were ok. Five food wheat samples from this mill have also been examined. Unsatisfactory results of the analysis concerned 1,500 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat, which was seized by SVPS in the Kolarovo Mill in mid-April. A pesticide that isn't permitted in the EU has been confirmed in the examined sample. The mill contested the findings based on the results of its own analysis, so an arbitration sample will decide about the result. "We contacted the European Commission's reference laboratory for pesticides in Copenhagen. They will do the analysis for us, the sample should be in Copenhagen by Wednesday, and they will inform us about the result within a few days," said Bires. The grain will remain blocked until the final decision of the commission is known.
Source: TASR
