A consignment of red peppers exported from Albania has been urgently withdrawn from the Slovenian market after laboratory tests revealed high levels of pesticides dangerous to the health of consumers.
According to Slovenian authorities, the peppers contained pesticides such as acetamiprid, formetanate and flonicamid, which exceeded the permitted limits. The product was imported into Slovenia between 24 August and 4 September and was distributed in cardboard and plastic boxes. The company Geaprodukt, which imported the peppers from Albania, has ordered their immediate withdrawal from the market and has advised customers to return the product to the place of purchase. If this is not possible, they should dispose of it carefully themselves.
The company has also warned consumers who may have consumed or had contact with the peppers to wash their hands thoroughly and, if they experience digestive discomfort or nausea, to seek immediate medical attention. Agricultural exports from Albania to European Union countries are increasingly facing strict controls on the content of chemical residues and heavy metals in food products.
A few days ago, Slovenian authorities also blocked a quantity of 5,562 kg of peaches originating from Albania due to high levels of nickel, which exceeded the EU permitted norms. This case was reported on 22 August 2025 through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), notifying the National Food Authority in Albania. According to the AKU, the peaches did not enter the domestic market, as they were intended exclusively for export, and the quantity was immediately destroyed in Croatia after laboratory tests confirmed it.
