Laboratory tests have established that about 3.4 percent of vegetables and fruits arriving in Buraida, the regional capital of Qassim Region, are contaminated with pesticide residuary which is above permissible levels.

Some 2,259 samples from farms and markets that supply the city with food items were tested, which revealed that 79.1 percent were found free of pesticides and 17.4 percent were contaminated with pesticides within the permissible and internationally recognized limits, Al-Watan daily quoting laboratory findings, said.

Head of Food Test Labs in Buraidah Dr. Salih Sulaiman Al-Amir said Qassim Governorate destroys contaminated products in coordination with the Market Management in the city.

Al-Amir said the governorate had opened market yards for sale of secured and hygienic vegetables and other produce from certain farms if certain conditions are met.