Company in Kuching fined for importing, selling mandarin oranges with excessive pesticide
Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan imposed the fine after the company via a representative pleaded guilty to a charge under Regulation 397(1) of the Food Regulations 1985 and sentenced under Regulation 397(2) of the same law. — Pexels photo
KUCHING (June 9): A food importing company was fined RM4,000 by the Magistrates' Court here today for importing and selling mandarin oranges containing pesticide residue exceeding the permitted limit.
Magistrate Mason Jaro Lenya Barayan imposed the fine after the company via a representative pleaded guilty to a charge under Regulation 397(1) of the Food Regulations 1985 and sentenced under Regulation 397(2) of the same law.
According to the facts of the case, a fresh sample of the mandarin oranges was taken on Dec 20, 2024 and sent for a laboratory analysis.
The test results revealed the presence of 0.02mg/kg of Organophosphorus/Chlorpyrifos pesticide residue, which exceeded the permissible limit under Regulation 41(3)(c) of the Food Regulations 1985.
The Regulation stipulates that no person shall prepare for sale any food containing 0.01 milligrammes or more per kilogramme of any pesticide residue, unless that pesticide is specified for that food in the Sixteenth Schedule or the Codex Alimentarius.
During court proceedings, prosecuting officer Mohd Fairos Ibrahim from the Inspectorate and Legal Unit of the Kuching Division Health Office informed the court that exposure to pesticides in excessive or prolonged amounts could pose health risks and harm human organs.
He urged the court to impose an appropriate sentence to serve as a deterrent to the accused.
Mohd Fairos added that an appropriate sentence would also serve as a warning to other importers to exercise greater caution when bringing food products into Malaysia, and to ensure proper measures are taken before importing samples. company exceed oranges permitted limit pesticide residue
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