According to a report from Keinia cited by EkoIran, Mohammad Salehi, the president of the Iranian Pistachio Association, announced the presence of pesticide residues in Iranian pistachios. He stated that, so far, no exported shipments have been returned due to pesticide residues, but some have been rejected due to aflatoxin. Aflatoxin is a natural fungal toxin that contaminates crops such as corn, peanuts, pistachios, and other products.

He announced that this year, it is expected that 200,000 tons of pistachios will be produced, which is an improvement compared to last year. Last year, the production was also 200,000 tons, of which 80,000 tons were exported and 20,000 tons were sold in the domestic market.

Also read: World’s Top Pistachio Producers: Where Does Iran Stand?

Four Shipments of Iranian Pistachios Rejected Due to Aflatoxin

According to a report from the Commercial Committee of the Iranian Pistachio Association, in June 2024, six shipments of pistachios from various export sources were returned from the European Union. Four of these shipments were from Iran, one from the United States, and one from Turkey. It is important to note that the European Union has set maximum contamination limits for aflatoxin B1, total aflatoxins, and ochratoxin A at 8, 10, and 5 micrograms per kilogram for ready-to-consume pistachios, respectively.

Salehi added that pesticide issues are prevalent in many orchards, and many farmers lack access to quality pesticides. He emphasized that the Ministry of Agriculture must assist farmers in securing quality fertilizers and pesticides to produce better-quality products. He also mentioned that the size of Iranian pistachios is decreasing in certain regions due to water scarcity, although in many parts of the country, the size of the pistachios remains acceptable.

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