New French tests show Ukrainian wheat DDT free
Date: 18-Dec-02
Country: FRANCE
"All the analyses have proved negative," Glon Sanders, France's biggest compounder, said in a statement.
A fresh analysis of the wheat had been ordered by the local authorities after procedural problems were discovered in the original tests.
Glon Sanders said several tests conducted by itself, customs officials and French cereals office ONIC had all proved negative. The results of those by the French veterinary services and the anti-fraud office were yet to be published, it added. An initial discovery of DDT residues in the 25,000-tonne cargo last week sparked concern in the French market and denials from the Ukrainian government that the toxic chemical was still in use in the country.
The row was compounded by a discovery by Canadian authorities of crop diseases in Ukrainian shipments, a find that led to the withdrawl of import permits for Ukrainian wheat.
