Shipments of Chilean cherries intercepted at Taiwanese border

Nine shipments of Chilean cherries were blocked upon entry into Taiwan after food safety tests showed they contained excess levels of pesticide residues, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration announced last week. The 123 tons of cherries were found to contain residues of cyantraniliprole, a broad-spectrum insecticide for controlling insects with mandibulate as well as piercing-sucking mouthparts, as a result of batch-by-batch inspections at the border, Chen Ching-yu, a division chief at the FDA’s Northern Center for Regional Administration, told reporters.

Taiwan only allows a limited permissible level of cyantraniliprole in melons, cruciferous vegetables, tea leaves, apples, and pears, and cherries are not included in those five categories of imports, according to the FDA. Since January 11, all cherries imported from Chile have been subject to border testing after it was found that the fruit shipments were failing safety checks with a greater frequency, Chen said.