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Surveillance of Pesticide Residues in Chile (2015–2023): MRL Exceedances, Sales Indicators and Highly Hazardous Pesticides
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Guoqing Zhao ,
Carlos Faundez ,
Marco Campos ,
Andrés Aracena ,
César Zúñiga,
Sebastian Molinett,
Susana Contreras-Duarte
Agriculture, Volume: 16, Issue: 7, Start page: 723
Swansea University Author:
Guoqing Zhao
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© 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
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DOI (Published version): 10.3390/agriculture16070723
Abstract
Intensive horticultural and fruit production in Chile relies on pesticides, raising concerns about compliance with residue limits and the continued availability of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs). Recent national monitoring data from Chile indicate frequent detections of HHPs in plant-based foods...
| Published in: | Agriculture |
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| ISSN: | 2077-0472 |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2026
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa71675 |
| Abstract: |
Intensive horticultural and fruit production in Chile relies on pesticides, raising concerns about compliance with residue limits and the continued availability of highly hazardous pesticides (HHPs). Recent national monitoring data from Chile indicate frequent detections of HHPs in plant-based foods and repeated exceedances of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). This study analyzed official datasets from Chile’s Ministry of Agriculture, combining food residue monitoring data from 2015 to 2023 with pesticide sales and import statistics as additional indicators of availability. Active ingredients were standardized to ISO names and CAS numbers and classified for HHP status based on FAO/WHO hazard criteria, with cross-referencing to the Pesticide Action Network (PAN). The results present surveillance indicators focusing on detection rates and MRL exceedance proportions. Between 2015 and 2023, residues were identified in 82.8% of the collected samples. The most frequently detected residues overall included fludioxonil, acetamiprid, pyrimethanil, fenhexamid, and boscalid, indicating a detection profile primarily characterized by fungicides with substantial contributions from insecticides. When restricting to HHPs classified residues, the most frequently detected HHPs included tebuconazole, captan, iprodione, spirodiclofen, chlorantraniliprole, and carbendazim, indicating a detection profile primarily characterized by fungicides, with significant contributions from insecticides. Records of exceedances were concentrated within a limited subset of residues, predominantly acetamiprid and dithiocarbonates, and were most frequently associated with apples, table grapes, cherries, blueberries, pears, and certain vegetables, notably leafy vegetables. The active ingredients classified within HHPs included fludioxonil, fenhexamid, tebuconazole, cyprodinil, and lambda-cyhalothrin. The findings support agronomic decision-making by emphasizing GAP/PHI reinforcement, targeted monitoring, and IPM-based substitution options for activities involving recurrent HHP detection. |
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| Keywords: |
pesticide residues monitoring; maximum residue limits (MRLs); highly hazardous pesticides; pesticide sales declarations; Chile |
| College: |
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Funders: |
This research was funded by ANID FONDECYT no. 1230872 |
| Issue: |
7 |
| Start Page: |
723 |