Professor Simone Ronsisvalle from the University of Catania, Italy, gave insights regarding analytical techniques of different pesticides and accreditation process. Contributions were also made by Professor Emmanuel Sinagra, Chairperson of the Pesticides Control Board and Head of Department of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Malta, Professor Everaldo Attard, Coordinator of the Division of Rural Sciences and Food Systems, University of Malta, Joanne Borg Galea from the Malta Competition and Consumers Affairs Authority and Tamara Micallef from the Environment and Resources Authority. Perspectives on current regulations related to plant protection products, chemicals in water and pesticide control were shared.
The need for more harmonized, standardized and accredited methods of analysis for pesticides in herbal medicinal products was discussed. Eighty participants attended the seminar and actively participated in discussions related to methods of analysis for determination of pesticides that could be adopted by the industry to help ensure quality, efficacy and safety of herbal medicinal products. The educational seminar was positively evaluated by participants and the need for organization of other similar seminars in the future was highlighted.
