As the buckwheat harvest season begins, the State Crop Production Service has issued a strong caution against using glyphosate-containing pesticides in buckwheat fields. The State Crop Production Service of the Ministry of Agriculture has said that no plant protection chemicals are licensed for use in buckwheat before harvest, hence glyphosate treatment is totally banned.

Recent incidents with buckwheat producers putting glyphosate on their crops have resulted in administrative penalties and the removal of contaminated production. This approach not only poses a risk to the food safety, but it also breaches rules and may result in financial losses for farmers.

The State Crop Production Service is regularly checking fields to ensure they are in accordance with the requirements. If any cases of unauthorised glyphosate usage are reported, comprehensive inspections will be carried out, and violators will face administrative fines. Information on infractions and possibly contaminated items will be transmitted with competent authorities, such as the State Food and Veterinary Service, the National Payment Agency, and VšĮ “Ekoagros” the organic certification for organic farms.

The public is encouraged to report any suspected infractions of plant protection product use, particularly during harvest season.