[NCHU News] NCHU Pesticide Residue Testing Center: Ensuring Agricultural Product Safety 

[Written and Photographed by Media and Public Relations Team] The pesticide residue testing mechanism not only ensures the safety of agricultural products for the public but also serves as a crucial checkpoint for domestic crops being exported. Established in 2008, the National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) Pesticide Residue Testing Center obtained ISO certification in July 2011. Currently, the center operates with two sets of high-precision instruments: the Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometer (LC/MS/MS) and the Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS/MS). With its advanced equipment and professional staff, the center is regarded as a highly reputable testing institution in Taiwan. The center now processes around 2,000 tests annually and has become an important pesticide residue testing center in central and northern Taiwan.

In the past, the responsibility for pesticide residue testing in Taiwan was primarily handled by the Agricultural Chemicals and Toxic Substances Research Institute under the Council of Agriculture. However, due to the growing demand for testing, several universities with specialized technical expertise established pesticide testing centers, encouraged by government policies. Among the well-operating centers, NCHU leads in central Taiwan, while National Cheng Kung University and Meiho University serve the southern regions. According to the Director of the NCHU Pesticide Residue Testing Center, Mr. Te-Tzu Zeng, the center's detection instruments, such as the LC/MS/MS, have significantly improved sensitivity, detecting at the ppb (parts per billion) level, compared to the previous ppm (parts per million) level. These highly sensitive machines also greatly reduce detection time, allowing over 100 pesticide types to be tested in just 20 minutes, compared to the previous 3-4 weeks. In nationwide blind sample tests conducted by the Council of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, NCHU's test results have consistently aligned with those of other major testing agencies, further solidifying its credibility.

The months of June and July mark the peak export season for mangoes and lychees to Japan, making this period the busiest time for the NCHU Pesticide Residue Testing Center. Mr. Zeng mentioned that beginning in late May each year, three quarantine officers from Japan are stationed in northern, central, and southern Taiwan. Since mangoes are perishable during transport, the testing time must be minimized. From the moment the mangoes are scanned and submitted for testing, the center must complete the testing and submit the report to the Council of Agriculture within 24 hours, while for lychees, the report must be submitted within 36 hours. The staff faces significant time pressure during this period, working through weekends and even during typhoons, as harvested crops cannot be stored for long, making timely testing critical for export.

The center currently has three professional technicians and operates with two sets of LC/MS/MS and GC/MS/MS instruments. In 2023, it handled approximately 2,000 tests, including 1,100 commissioned by the Agriculture and Food Agency, about 300 tests for exported mangoes and lychees, and various private commissions. Mr. Zeng noted that the center’s maximum daily capacity is around 40 tests, and with its current setup, it can handle over 4,000 tests per year. The center is conveniently located on the fourth floor of the Quarantine and Inspection Building on NCHU’s campus, near Guoguang Road in Taichung City, making it accessible for clients across Taichung, Changhua, Nantou, Hsinchu, Miaoli, Yunlin, and Chiayi.

Mr. Zeng, who founded the NCHU Pesticide Residue Testing Center, has taught in the Department of Plant Pathology at NCHU for nearly 30 years. He is well aware of the health and environmental risks posed by pesticides, as the 303 types of pesticides announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare are materials he discusses in his courses. To reduce pesticide use and improve crop quality, he began researching beneficial microbes as an alternative to chemical pesticides 20 years ago and has successfully helped farmers implement these methods.

Over the years, NCHU has also assisted the Agriculture and Food Agency in compiling the Taiwan Agricultural Products Major Export Countries' Pesticide Residue Limits Handbook, which serves as a reference for agricultural exports and has been highly praised by domestic industry.

As the oldest and most influential institution for agricultural knowledge and technology in Taiwan, NCHU has long played a significant role in policy recommendations, technological development, farmer guidance, and pesticide residue testing. Looking ahead, the NCHU Pesticide Residue Testing Center plans to expand its testing services to cover additional food items, continuing to contribute to Taiwan’s agriculture by ensuring food safety through both testing and the promotion of safe agricultural products.