Post harvest chemical treatment - vegetables

This requirement can be followed up, for example, by carrying out spot checks on delivered food products. This can be done by checking one of the following, for example:

• Valid licence/certificate for a label/certification that covers the requirement, for example IP Sigill Frukt och grönt/Svenskt Sigill [IP Seal Fruit & Vegetables/Swedish Seal] or equivalent

Make use of specialist expertise in your organisation when following up the summitted evidence of compliance. This could, for example, be an environmental or sustainability strategist with extensive expertise within questions related to sustainability.

The criterium only covers fresh products and does not include products within the categories frozen, dried, pickled, preserved or similar, and that are processed directly after harvest. The criterium is relevant for fresh and cooled, conventionally-gown table potatoes, where there is good availability on the market. It may also be relevant for root vegetables and onions that are stored for longer periods, but this may be limited by market availability and vary for different products. Conduct a market analysis to ensure availability.
Market analysis (in Swedish)

For potatoes and other root vegetables, post harvest chemical treatment is used to protect against pest and disease problems after harvest or to have an impact on life processes, for example germination or ripening, and thereby extend the shelf life. The requirement aims to reduce the use of these substances and to limit unnecessary exposure for consumers.

To achieve a circular economy the dependency on chemical plant protection products needs to be reduced and hazardous substances need to be stopped from re-entering the ecosystem cycle.

Chemical plant protection products that contain fungicides are not permitted in the treatment of fruit or table potatoes after harvest in Sweden, in accordance with the Regulation (2014:425) on Plant Protection Products, chapter 2 §39 b.

The version date indicates when the sustainability criterion was created or last updated. Last reviewed dated tells when we last checked that the sustainability criterion still is relevant.

2023-02-07, Requirement ID 10391:2: The criterion gets a new version number. Changes requirement level from basic to advanced. Criteria name adjusted for increased clarity. The criterion no longer covers Maleic hydrazide for germination-inhibiting treatment of onions. Added in requirement text that 1,4-Dimethylnaphthalene, orange oil and spearmint oil are accepted for treatment of food potatoes after harvest. Added suggestions for follow-up. Adjusted motive text and how the requirement should be used. Added to the National Food Strategy requirements package
2020-01-08: Proof changed from IP Basic Certification to IP Seal - no version management 2016-12-16: Additions in requirement text - root vegetables, new subgroup vegetables