This study has been carried out to consider the likelihood of violations of Maximum Residues Level (MRL) in food commodities that are consumed in Kurdistan region. It is largely based on border rejections reports of excessive pesticide residues in food reported by European Member Countries, including those in the European Economic Area (RASFF Member Countries). The study focuses on the countries which supply Kurdistan. Data of MRL exceedance reports from these countries has also been collected to indicate the possible MRL violations in Kurdistan food and the likelihood of excessive pesticide residues in food that Kurdish people are exposed to. The majority of Kurdistan food commodities (fruits, vegetables and cereals) are imported especially from neighboring countries and Turkey is the strongest trade partner of Kurdistan. Turkish produce was 60 times reported for excessively high pesticide residues by EU and EEA Member Countries in 2012. The discovery of these cases of MRL violations strongly suggests that the Kurdistan Regional Government should establish a competent authority in order to develop and maintain a functional food safety control system.

Balen D. Mirza instructor at Koya University, Studied MSc in Food Safety and Quality Management (Post-Harvest Technology) at University of Greenwich-UK, and BSc in Agricultural Science at Koya University- Kurdistan Region of Iraq.