The Albert Heijn protocol lays down the contracting requirements to guarantee full application of the legislation in European Union regarding Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) and Acute Reference Dose (ARfD) for fresh produce.
Since fresh produce comes from production zones anywhere in the world, Albert Heijn has established a protocol, apart from GLOBALG.A.P, to monitor the levels of residues at source: the producers and packaging stations of suppliers.
The aim of the Albert Heijn protocol is as follows:
- Guidance and support for suppliers.
- Full transparency as regards traceability and use of pesticides.
- A good analysis of risks to properly reflect the possibilities of overcoming these and the control measures used
- Systematic verification through GLOBALG.A.P
- A system for taking samples which vouches for compliance of the standards required.
- The cost of the system is met by suppliers and producers and they are jointly responsible for guaranteeing levels of residues.