May 12 is the International Day of Plant Health. The purpose of this day, declared by the United Nations, is to emphasize the importance of protecting plant health on a global scale and to educate the public in this area.

The Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (FSAA) regularly carries out measures to protect plant health in our country, as well as to detect diseases and pests in a timely manner and take effective measures to combat them.

“EDnews” reports that the agency has prepared a new draft law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On Plant Health” in order to improve the legal framework in the field of plant health, which is one of the main elements of the food chain.

The main objectives of the draft law are to further improve methods of combating plant diseases, control the proper use of pesticides and agrochemicals, and ensure the compliance of agricultural products with international requirements.

Specialized laboratories of the Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute also play a special role in ensuring plant health. Entomological, herbological, phytohelminthological, mycological, bacteriological and virological examinations are carried out in the Central Phytosanitary Laboratory of the Institute.

Laboratory tests of pesticides and agrochemicals are carried out using international methods in the Complex Research Laboratory. Residues of pesticides in fruit and vegetable products are determined in the National Reference Laboratory. At the same time, the most modern laboratory tests are carried out in the Khachmaz, Lankaran and Tovuz Regional Testing Laboratories to detect plant diseases.

Also, the Mobile Phytosanitary Laboratory operates in order to further strengthen control in the phytosanitary field and organize work efficiently.

Madina Mammadova\\EDnews