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<p>This project aims to provide detailed and robust information required for the relevant controls to ensure that any risks from nitrates - through chronic exposure via food - do not pose a risk to public health. The key objective of this work is to carry out the sampling of up to 250 (since reduced to 155 from March 2011) samples of UK-grown and imported fresh produce. This is principally lettuce and spinach, but includes other species as may be requested by the Agency. The sampling plan takes account of the major seasonal fluctuations that can occur in nitrate levels in salad crops. Sample collection, preparation and analyses shall be in accordance with guidelines provided in Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 and the quality assurance procedures adopted for delivery of the 2002-2008 UK nitrate monitoring programmes. Growers will be informed of the results of analyses of their samples. Where maximum limits have been exceeded, they will be expected to examine and/or review aspects of their agricultural practices that could have contributed to the results.</p>
<p>Summary results, combining all the data for a month, will be reported to the Agency using summary spreadsheets. These spreadsheets will comprise the analytical data for tissue nitrate concentration in each sample, as well as the date sampled, field location and other grower information as provided by the samplers. The aim will be to supply the summary data to the Agency each week for four weeks of sampling, within six weeks of the beginning of each month of sampling, in a form that is suitable for reporting to the Commission.</p>
<p>On an annual basis, a full report of results will be provided in a spreadsheet format listing:</p>
<ul>
<li>individual results</li>
<li>mean results</li>
<li>batch reference material values</li>
<li>recovery</li>
<li>measurement uncertainty</li>
<li>details of any subsequent confirmatory</li>
</ul>
<p>The annual report will be produced within four weeks of the completion of all analyses for that year. The final report will be produced within four weeks of the completion of all analyses over the five year period.</p>
European Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 sets maximum levels of certain contaminants, including nitrate, in foodstuffs. It requires member states to monitor nitrate levels in particular green leafy vegetables and report, annually, the results to the Commission.
<p>Nitrates commonly occur in high concentrations in spinach and lettuce mainly due to climatic conditions. This is a particular problem for lettuce growers in northern European countries, such as the UK, because poorer light quality can restrict the energy available for assimilation of nitrate by the crops.</p>
<p>Consequently, the UK had struggled to meet the lower limits set by the Regulation and was allowed an exemption which ended in December 2008. Recent research and monitoring have demonstrated that climatic conditions, which clearly cannot be controlled, limit the extent to which good agricultural practices can be used to minimise nitrate levels in the UK and other northern member states.</p>
<p>Though new increased limits have been agreed since December 2011, continued monitoring is required for possible future review and also to inform policy to manage any potential risk of nitrate in green vegetables.</p>