Saatja: "Ewoud Buter" <
[email protected]>
Saaja:
[email protected]
Teema: FW: Inquiry Regarding Use of Processing Aids and Chlorine-Based Wash Systems in Estonia
Kuupäev: 2025-09-04 13:49
Tähelepanu! Tegemist on väljastpoolt asutust saabunud kirjaga. Tundmatu
saatja korral palume linke ja faile mitte avada.
Dear Estonian Health Board,
As you can see in the email chain here below, Joanna-Maria Usar (Chief
Specialist - Food Safety Department - Ministry of Regional Affairs and
Agriculture) directed me to you.
We would like to request some information to better understand the
regulatory framework in Estonia regarding fruit and vegetable processing.
This will help us assess whether we can do business in your country
directly, or if our customers may deliver treated produce to Estonia.
Brief introduction:
SmartWash Solutions offers a highly effective washing methodology for the
fruit and vegetable market. With our concept, processors continuously
monitor and control the chemistry of their wash water to improve food
safety. With our wash methodology a chlorinated disinfectant (we as
SmartWash Solutions do not deliver the disinfectant (biocide) - our customer
is responsible to purchase this at their chemical supplier, locally) is used
to mitigate cross-contamination of pathogens during the wash step in the
processing plant, and to help prevent product recalls or outbreaks.
Can you please answer the following questions:
Chlorinated wash methodology
a. Could you please confirm whether the use of a well-controlled,
chlorine-based wash systems is permitted for fruit and vegetable processing
in Estonia?
b. Is it permitted for our customers to use our washing methodology in
another EU country and then distribute the washed produce into Estonia?
c. At the EU level, Regulation (EU) 2020/749 defines strict MRLs for
chlorates (a disinfectant by-product - DBP).
a. Does Estonia apply these harmonized EU MRL values, as most other
member states do, or are there national deviations?
Thanks for your positive reply.
Met vriendelijke groet / Kind regards / Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Ewoud Buter
Cell: +31.6.1544.1290
<http://www.smartwashsolutions.com/>
Van: Joanna-Maria Usar <
[email protected]>
Verzonden: donderdag 4 september 2025 13:54
Aan: Ewoud Buter <
[email protected]>
CC: Katrin Lõhmus <
[email protected]>
Onderwerp: RE: Inquiry Regarding Use of Processing Aids and Chlorine-Based
Wash Systems in Estonia
Caution: External Email
Dear Mr. Buter
Unfortunately, we are not able to address these questions, as issues
concerning the chemical safety of water—including wash water used for
foodstuffs—fall outside the expertise of our department. The competent
authority for water-related matters is the Estonian Health Board, which will
be best placed to advise you on the matter of chlorinated water. To ensure
the quickest and most accurate guidance as well as to remove the need for
intermediary correspondence, we kindly suggest contacting the Estonian
Health Board directly at
[email protected] <mailto:
[email protected]>
Kind regards,
Joanna-Maria Usar
Chief Specialist
Food Safety Department
Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture
______________________________
<mailto:
[email protected]>
[email protected]
+ 372 5688 4193
Suur-Ameerika tn 1 / 10122 Tallinn / Estonia
<http://www.agri.ee/> www.agri.ee
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From: Ewoud Buter <
[email protected]
<mailto:
[email protected]> >
Sent: kolmapäev, 3. september 2025 17:02
To: Joanna-Maria Usar <
[email protected]
<mailto:
[email protected]> >
Subject: RE: Inquiry Regarding Use of Processing Aids and Chlorine-Based
Wash Systems in Estonia
Dear Joanna-maria,
Thanks for your reply, sometimes important questions need some extra time,
we know 😉
Good to read that contamination must be prevented during the processing
steps of fruit and vegetables, so a biocide is required. Most used
disinfection in this market is sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl (l) 12 or 12,5 %
Food Grade). Our customers will buy this disinfection themselves with their
local chemical supplier(s). Chlorine is in general an EU accepted biocide
for fruit and vegetable washing, but my question was only theoretically, if
chlorinated wash water is allowed at Estonian processors with washing fruit
and vegetables. And if for example processors from another EU country (let’s
say Latvia) uses our chlorine based wash system, can they export this to
Estonia?
Can you please reply on these situations?
Thanks in advance.
Met vriendelijke groet / Kind regards / Mit freundlichen Grüßen,
Ewoud Buter
Cell: +31.6.1544.1290
<http://www.smartwashsolutions.com/>