Nitrate monitoring programme in food of plant origin for 2022. Country/Territory Montenegro Document type Regulation Date 2022 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Food & nutrition Keyword Breastfeeding/infant food Cereals/grains/rice Food quality control/food safety Monitoring Pesticides Policy/planning Public health Vegetables/legumes Agricultural commodities Nutrition Geographical area Europe, Europe and Central Asia, Mediterranean, Southern Europe Entry into force notes This text entered into force on 13 May 2022. Abstract Based on the provisions of the Montenegrin Law on food safety, this Programme sets planned annual (for the year 2022) nitrate monitoring tasks as regards the presence of nitrates in food of plant origin. Provisions of article 9 (paragraph 1) of the Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs are transposed in this text. The Programme is implemented in order to assess the threat to the health of population, in accordance with the Regulation on maximum allowed contamination rates in food. This text determines the performers of monitoring and sampling, number of samples and type of tests, type of product (spinach Spinacia oleracea: fresh, preserved, deep-frozen or frozen; fresh lettuce Lactuca sativa L. indoors and outdoors; iceberg lettuce Iceberg-type u, sheltered and outdoors; Eruca sativa rocket, Diplotaxis sp., Brassica tenuifolia, Sisymbrium tenuifolium and food from processed cereals and baby food intended for infants and young children). Nitrates are contaminants characterized by high solubility in water and mobility in the environment, especially leafy vegetables (lettuce, chard, spinach, rocket) are the main source of nitrate in the human diet. Nitrate accumulation is affected by the following factors: nitrogen supply of plants, quantity, type, source and time of application of plant nutrition products, light, water regime, temperature, plant species, growth and development phase and other environmental factors (content of CO2 in the atmosphere, soil type, presence of herbicides, provision of plants with certain necessary elements, etc.), harvests, vegetable growing conditions (open or protected space). Full text Montenegrin Website www.sluzbenilist.me References - Legislation Implements Law on food safety (2015). Legislation | Montenegro | 2015 Keyword: Basic legislation, Food quality control/food safety, Inspection, Internal trade, International trade, HACCP, Offences/penalties, Consumer protection, Risk assessment/management, Food additives, Special dietary uses, Early warning system, Residues, Precautionary principle, Treated food, Radiation, Registration, Education, Genetically modified organism (GMO), Animal feed/feedstuffs Source: FAO, FAOLEX