Government Decree No. HG115/2013 on control of nitrate content in food products of plant origin.

This Government Decree establishes maximum permissible levels of nitrates applicable to food products of plant origin placed on the internal market, and the nitrate content should not exceed the MRL-maximum residue limits, set forth in the table contained in the Annex. Maximum permissible levels of nitrates shall be applicable to the edible part of food products of plant origin, in the form in which they are supplied for sale. The maximum permissible level does not apply to fresh spinach, intended for processing or transported in bulk directly from the field to processing plant. Compliance with maximum levels of nitrates in food products of plant origin is established on the basis of the levels defined in laboratory tests. Entrepreneurs in the food sector, natural or legal persons authorize the agent to sample products of plant origin to monitor compliance with the approved maximum nitrate levels. Each sample taken for official control is sealed on site of the selection. The container is sealed and labelled in such a way that its opening and removing the label without damaging the seal is impossible. The sampling agent must record the name and origin of the lot, species, date and place of selection, name of the entrepreneur of food sector, production technology. Annex 1 contains the form of sampling report.