The issue of imidacloprid residue has once again attracted attention, with many countries strengthening the inspection of agricultural product imports

09/16/2025 09:24:05

Recently, as the European Union, Japan, and other countries have further tightened their standards for pesticide residues in agricultural products, imidacloprid, a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide, has once again become a focal point in international agricultural trade. Customs authorities in multiple countries have detected excessive residues of imidacloprid in imported agricultural products, particularly in tea, fruits, and vegetable products from Asia.
Imidacloprid is widely used on crops such as rice, wheat, and fruit trees due to its highly effective insecticidal effect. However, its potential toxicity to pollinators such as bees and its long-term impact on the ecological environment have led to stricter regulation worldwide in recent years. The European Union has partially banned imidacloprid since 2018, and since 2025, it has further lowered the limit for certain residues to below 0.01 mg/kg.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China also emphasized at the recent pesticide management conference that it would strengthen the supervision of the use of high-risk pesticides such as imidacloprid, promote the substitution of green prevention and control technologies, and encourage farmers to use biological pesticides and low-toxicity alternatives.
Industry experts point out that the residue issue of imidacloprid not only affects export trade but also poses a challenge to domestic food safety. In the future, pesticide residue detection technology, pesticide use standards, and farmer training will become policy priorities.