330 Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment, Vol.8 (2), April 2010 www.world-food.net Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment Vol.8 (2): 330-338. 2010 WFL Publisher Science and Technology Meri-Rastilantie 3 B, FI-00980 Helsinki, Finland e-mail: info@world-food.net Received 26 January 2010, accepted 6 April 2010. Evolution of the phytosanitary control system in the intensive horticulture model of high yield in Almería (2005-2008) Rafael Lozano 1 , Fernando Diánez 2 and Francisco Camacho 2 * 1 Provincial Government Office of Agriculture and Fish, Andalusian Regional Governent, C/Hermanos Machado, 4, 04004- Almería, Spain. 2 Plant Production in Mediterranean Crop Systems Research Group, Advanced Polytechnic School, University of Almeria, Almería, 04120, Spain. *e-mail: fcamacho@ual.es Abstract The purpose of this work was to analyse the crisis effect, caused by the presence of unauthorized pesticide, isophenphos-methyl, in fresh peppers of Spanish origin in December 2006, on the model of horticultural production of high yield in Almería. The surveillance plan of residues of phytosanitary products in origin of the Regional Ministry of Agriculture and Fish of the Andalusian Regional Government has been analysed between the years 2005 and 2008, in the province of Almería. The year 2007 represented a clear turning point with the drastic decrease in the presence of residues from active substances above the MRLs and unauthorized ones in the crops where the samples had been taken. Due to the economic importance and the specific weight of pepper crops in the intensive horticulture system of high yield in Almería, this has been the most damaged crop due to a bad use of phytosanitaries. The last results of the plans analysed confirm that all vegetables produced now in Almería meet the requirements of safety, hygiene, quality of products and respect the environment that the market demands. The development and implementation of new phytosanitary control programmes, as the biological control and the integrated production, are now perfectly implemented in the field of Almería, therefore, high quality fruit and vegetable production, food safety and competitiveness were obtained in the markets. Key words: Greenhouse, isophenphos-methyl, pesticide, biological control, integrated production, food safety. Introduction The use of chemical products to control the harmful agents that affect horticultural crops is a habitual practice legally permitted, although not everybody accepts it, mainly due to the harmful effects on environment, generated by this kind of products. In general, such effects are caused by the abuse as well as by a bad use and handling of the products. Nowadays, one of the most worrying harmful effects is the presence of residues of phytosanitary products in vegetable products used directly for human consumption or those used for livestock food, whose products and subproducts are included in the human diet. Currently there is a great awareness and demand for quality in products and food, nationally and worldwide, supported by the pertaining legislation, and especially about the possible presence of toxic substances. More often, the problems caused by the residues are due to the need for using high amounts of phytosanitary products to fight against crop pests, more and more numerous; or even, as the case of Almería, due to the use of unauthorised active substances, e. g. isophenphos-methyl, in protected horticultural crops. On 27 th December 2006 the RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) sent to AESA (Spanish Agency of Food Safety) information coming from Germany, and according to this information, some analyses had been carried out in November and December in that year and they had detected residues of unauthorized phytosanitaries in fresh peppers of Spanish origin. Concretely, residues of the unauthorized pesticide, isophenphos- methyl, were found in 9 of the 15 samples of fresh peppers analysed. The presence of unauthorized pesticides in peppers coming from Almería was important news in the mass media, generating notable concern in the productive sector (greenhouses closed down, negative image of the same, etc.) as well as in the Spanish and European consumers. Their confidence on the consumption of safe food, particularly of fruit and vegetable products, was again affected. In addition to a series of “shock” actions, before this new crisis situation, the response of the Provincial Government Office of Agriculture and Fish of Almería was to intensify the action plan that was being implemented from 2002. This plan consisted of the implementation of a phytosanitary control system that included preventive, cultural, and reasonable phytosanitary control measures, and above all, the biological fight, which has been known as “Green Commitment”. The practical implementation of the action plan and its effectiveness requires the strict compliance with a series of measures established in the Act 43/2002, of 20 th of November, of vegetable health 1 and specified in the order of the Regional Ministry of Agriculture and Fish of 12 th December 2001 2 . This order established the compulsory control measures as well as those recommended in the fight against viral diseases in horticultural crops.