The Influence Of Government Regulation On The Risks Of Pesticide Residues Of Fresh Fruits And Vegetables

With the growth in production and sales of fresh fruits and vegetables,pesticide residues have become a key issue limiting the simultaneous improvement in quality of fresh fruits and vegetables.Pesticide residues,especially highly toxic pesticides,seriously affect the quality and safety of fresh fruits and vegetables and endanger people’s health.To protect the interests of producers and consumers and to stabilise the market,China has adopted a series of government regulations to control the risk of pesticide residues.However,in the government-led pesticide residue management system,excessive pesticide residues in vegetables and fruits still occur even though pesticide residue regulations are being strengthened.Therefore,assessing the impact of government regulation on the risk of pesticide residues in fresh fruits and vegetables is key to further improving government regulation of pesticide residues.Based on the current situation of pesticide residues in fresh fruits and vegetables in China and the results of the existing literature,this paper first summarizes the current situation and problems of pesticide residue risk control by combining the development history of pesticide residue regulation in China.Second,this paper provides a descriptive analysis of the risk situation of pesticide residues in fresh fruits and vegetables in China,and evaluates the impact of government regulations on the risk of pesticide residues in fresh fruits and vegetables using an econometric model based on food quality and safety sampling data from China Food and Drug Administration and State Administration for Market Regulation in China from 2016 to 2020.The findings show that,firstly,government regulation is effective in reducing the risk levels of pesticide residues in fresh fruits and vegetables.Secondly,the effect of government regulation on the control of pesticide residue risks in fresh fruits and vegetables depends on the level of traceability of the producer.The level of traceability can,to a certain extent,enhance the regulatory effect of the policy of banning highly toxic pesticides and play a moderating role in the regulation of pesticide residue risks in fresh fruits and vegetables under the policy of banning highly toxic pesticides and the policy of training on pesticide use.Thirdly,the effect of government regulation on the risk of pesticide residues in fresh fruits and vegetables is more evident in the vegetable sector,while the risk of highly toxic pesticide residues in fresh fruits has not yet shown a significant regulatory effect.Fourthly,the effect of government regulation on the control of pesticide residue risks in fresh fruits and vegetables varies greatly across regions.By analysing the regional heterogeneity of government regulation,it was found that the effect of government regulation was more pronounced in Eastern China compared to other regions.Fifth,consumer participation in pesticide residue risk management further extends the governance reach of government regulation and is an effective complement to the effectiveness of government regulation.According to the research conclusions,this paper proposes the following recommendations:First,improve pesticide residue risk control policies and regulations;second,strengthen pesticide residue quality supervision and sampling and penalties for violations;third,accelerate the construction of a quality and safety traceability system for fresh fruits and vegetables;fourth,increase the governance of pesticide residue risk in fresh fruits;fifth,highlight government regulation tools for pesticide residue risk according to local conditions;sixth,strengthen the power of social public governance for pesticide residue risk.