UK monitoring programme for nitrate in lettuce and spinach 2000-2002

• Nitrate is a natural component of vegetables although the levels present are affected by growing conditions, fertiliser use and plant species/variety.
• The UK has carried out annual monitoring for nitrate in lettuce and spinach since 1996. Every Member State in the European Union is required to monitor and report levels of nitrate in lettuce and spinach as part of a European Commission Regulation.
• European Commission Regulation 563/2002 sets maximum levels for nitrate in lettuce and spinach, but it also permits UK growers to be exempted from meeting these limits for a transitional period ending on the 1 January 2005 (derogation period).
• The UK is applying the optional derogation in order to allow UK growers to meet the limits through changes in agricultural practice (ie applying the Code of Good Agricultural Practice). Consumers are protected because we still have to ensure, through monitoring, that nitrate levels do not exceed safety limits. Our estimates demonstrate that UK consumers are not exposed to unsafe levels of nitrate through consumption of lettuce and spinach.
• The levels of nitrate detected in lettuce and spinach in the reported surveys do not pose a risk to consumers' health as dietary exposure is assessed to be within the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) set by the European Commission's Scientific Committee for Food (SCF). No regulatory or other action has been taken.
• Lettuce and spinach make an important contribution to good health and their consumption, as part of a balanced diet, is encouraged.
• The Agency will continue to monitor the incidence and levels of nitrate in lettuce and spinach as required by EU legislation.