AMS NEWS RELEASE
AMS No. 025-04
Kathryn Mattingly (202) 720-8998
Billy Cox (202) 720-8998
USDA PESTICIDE DATA PROGRAM TO RELEASE 2002 DATA
WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2004––The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service today announced that the Pesticide Data Program Annual Summary, Calendar Year 2002 and the 2002 data are available via the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/science/pdp/download.htm. Printed copies of the 2002 Annual Summary will be available in mid-March. AMS is posting the summary and the data in advance of publication to make it available to stakeholders.
The Pesticide Data Program provides statistically reliable data on pesticide residues detected in selected foods. Since the program was initiated in 1991, PDP has tested 60 commodities including fresh and processed fruit and vegetables, grains, milk, butter, beef and poultry. Testing of finished drinking water began in 2001 and untreated drinking water was added in 2003.
PDP data are extremely valuable to consumers, food processors, pesticide producers and American farmers. In addition, these data benefit crop protection for American agriculture. PDP focuses on children's foods in response to the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act and provides critical realistic data for Environmental Protection Agency assessments of dietary exposure to pesticide residues. PDP data are also used to facilitate global trade of American agricultural products.
In 2002, the PDP analyzed a total of 12,899 food and drinking water samples. The commodities in the 2002 survey included 14 fresh fruit and vegetables (apples, asparagus, bananas, broccoli, carrots, celery, cucumbers, mushrooms, onions, peaches, pineapples, potatoes, spinach and sweet bell peppers), 4 processed commodities (apple juice, applesauce, canned and frozen sweet peas, and canned and frozen sweet corn), barley, milled rice and beef. Also in 2002, PDP continued a survey of drinking water to evaluate potential exposure to pesticide residues through drinking water consumption. Drinking water samples were collected from community water systems in California, Colorado, Kansas, New York and Texas.
The on-going 2004 PDP survey includes 11 fresh fruit and vegetables (apples, cantaloupes, cucumbers, grapes, lettuce, oranges, pears, strawberries, sweet bell peppers, sweet potatoes and tomatoes), 3 processed commodities (canned green beans, canned peaches and canned spinach), milk, and wheat flour. PDP drinking water testing in 2004 includes community water systems in Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington.
Congress approved implementation of PDP in January 1991 to improve the quality and quantity of information available on chemical residues in domestically produced and imported food. PDP provides the most comprehensive database available on actual residue levels of pesticides found in the U.S. food supply. Access to this information enables federal and state agencies, as well as national, international, industry, commodity, consumer and environmental groups to realistically evaluate pesticide issues.
Printed copies of the 2002 PDP Annual Summary can be obtained by writing to the Monitoring Programs Office, Science and Technology, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA, 8609 Sudley Road, Suite 206, Manassas, VA 20110, by faxing (703) 369-0678, by calling (703) 330-2300, extension 10, or by submitting an e-mail request to amsmpo.data@usda.gov.
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