BuRO advice on risks of residues of plant protection products on imported roses

Other advice to the Minister and State Secretary

BuRO also gives the following advice to the Minister and State Secretary:

• Ensure that florists, auctioneers, inspectors, and others who professionally handle imported roses and other cut flowers, correctly use the appropriate personal protective equipment (according to EN374-2016). This is especially important as long as there are no rules for residues of plant protection products on cut flowers.
• Discourage the consumption of rose petals from roses that have not been grown specifically for that purpose.
• Urge consumers and businesses not to dispose of waste from imported roses and other cut flowers as organic waste or on the compost heap.

Advice to the NVWA

BuRO also issues an advice to the Inspector General of the NVWA. The advice is to ensure that inspectors and other NVWA employees, who come into contact with imported roses and other cut flowers, correctly use the appropriate personal protective equipment (according to EN374-2016).

Reason for the investigation

In 2020, BuRO carried out research into risks in the ornamental horticulture production chain. It was highlighted that the Netherlands imports many cut flowers from countries outside of the European Union (EU). These flowers may contain high levels of residues of various plant protection products. This may pose a risk to consumers and workers in the flower sector. Moreover, these residues can end up in the environment, for example by composting flowers.

That is why BuRO advised to carry out further research into the presence of plant protection products on imported cut flowers.

Research questions and approach

For this research, BuRO formulated the following research questions:

• Does the presence of residues of plant protection products on roses from countries outside of the EU pose a risk to workers in the flower sector and/or to consumers in the Netherlands?
• Does the presence of residues of plant protection products on roses originating from countries outside of the EU pose a risk to soil organisms and/or bees in the Netherlands?

BuRO collected rose samples and had them analyzed. There are no existing methods to assess human or environmental risks based on measured concentrations of substances in or on roses. That is why BuRO asked the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) to conduct a risk assessment for workers and consumers. This risk assessment was used in answering the first research question. To assess the risks for soil organisms and bees, which are exposed to the residues via the soil, BuRO carried out its own risk assessment.

Answers to the research questions

Does the presence of residues of plant protection products on roses from countries outside of the EU pose a risk to workers in the flower sector and/or to consumers in the Netherlands?

The presence of residues of plant protection products on imported roses may pose a health risk to florists and inspectors who handle roses professionally. This is especially the case if they do not use personal protective equipment. But even when they work with covered arms and legs and use gloves, a health risk cannot be ruled out. It is still possible for some substances to penetrate the skin.

The collected rose samples contained substances that are banned in the EU, but roses containing these substances can still be traded here. Among the substances that pose a potential health risk are substances that can cause cancer (carcinogens), substances that can damage genes (mutagens) and substances that are harmful for reproduction or offspring (reprotoxic substances). Some substances are harmful to the unborn child or harmful to the infant through breastfeeding. In addition, 2 of the found substances are potentially genotoxic: they can penetrate body cells and damage the DNA. For these substances, the concentration is irrelevant and their presence is always a health risk. In addition, substances have been found that can lead to contact-eczema.

Consumers are exposed to the found residues via skin contact, hand-to-mouth contact, occasional sucking and inhalation. It is expected that most substances do not pose a health risk. There is a health risk when consuming rose petals from roses that are not intended for that purpose. This is especially the case for small children.

Finally, there is a risk that fungi will become resistant to azoles, which are used against fungi in both crop protection products and medicines. This can happen if these roses end up in organic waste.

Does the presence of residues of plant protection products on roses originating from countries outside of the EU pose a risk to soil organisms and/or bees in the Netherlands?

There may be a risk for soil organisms and bees if waste from roses imported from countries outside of the EU ends up in the organic waste and is thus processed in compost.

Further research is needed to determine how waste from imported roses and other cut flowers and ornamental products can be safely disposed of.

Further research

This risk assessment was restricted to risks of residues on roses from countries outside the EU. In addition to roses, many other cut flowers and ornamental products are imported from countries outside of the EU. These products also contain residues of plant protection products. As a result, people and the environment are exposed to even more substances, which may increase the risks. Follow-up research is needed on residues on other cut flowers and ornamental products imported from countries outside of the EU, as well as on residues on edible flowers on the Dutch market.