Romania has sought to reassure consumers about the safety of imported fruit by introducing stricter controls on all consignments from Turkey, after the country's ministry of agriculture and the National Veterinary Health and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) reportedly destroyed 120 tonnes of imported Turkish grapefruit said to have exceeded pesticide residue limits.
Daniel Constantin, the country's Minister of Agriculture, confirmed that the fruit had breached EU regulations on maximum residue levels for the fungicide enilconazole, also known as imazalil or chloramizole, which is commonly used in citrus production.
"There was a fungicide used to fight diseases and pests on such plants and which in high quantities could have negative affects on humans and animals as well," he said.
Meanwhile, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta has announced the opening of two new border crossing points between his country and neighbouring Bulgaria.
New infrastructure is set to be built at the crossing points, which link Dobromir and Lipnita in Romania with the Bulgarian towns of Kurshari and Kainargea respectively.
