Vegetables and fruits are indispensable food for maintaining a healthy diet. In today’s agriculture, pesticides are used in crops to help stabilise the supply of agricultural products, increase crop yields and ensure they are sufficient for our daily needs.
 
In order to regulate the pesticide residues in food in Macao, the standard of “Maximum Residue Limits of Pesticides in Foodstuffs” came into effect in 2020 and was amended in 2023. In addition to the limits of vegetables in original regulation, the scope of coverage on categories of foodstuffs has been expanded to include fruits, grains, etc., with a total of more than 5,500 maximum residue limits set to regulate pesticide residues in food in a more specific and comprehensive way.
 
In addition to the establishment of the standard to regulate pesticide residues in food, according to Macao’s import regime, all imported fresh and live food (including vegetables and fruits) is required to make a declaration and is subject to mandatory quarantine and inspection of the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) before the food is available for sale in the local market. Moreover, IAM further ensures food safety in Macao through conducting sampling inspections of food on the market and the food incident surveillance system.
 
Leaflet / Infographic:
Let’s Learn About: Pesticide Residues
Getting to Know Food Safety Standards in Macao
Let’s Understand Food Safety Standards in Macao
Food Safety Standards of “Maximum Residue Limits of Pesticides in Foodstuffs” has Entered into Force
 
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Learn About Standards of Pesticide Residues in Food
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Laws and Regulations:
Administrative Regulation No. 2/2023: Amendment to Administrative Regulation No. 11/2020 “Maximum Residue Limits of Pesticides in Foodstuffs”
Administrative Regulation no. 11/2020: Maximum Residue Limits of Pesticides in Foodstuffs
Supplementary Document: Guidelines for Classification of Food Products in Relation to “Maximum Residue Limits of Pesticides in Foodstuffs” (Chinese Version Only)