According to the Food and Veterinary Service (PVS), specialists checked about 37,000 batches of imported products in the first half of the year. Violations are regularly identified, and most often the problems are related to exceeding the permissible levels of harmful substances or using components banned in the European Union, reports TV3.lv. One of the latest cases involved a batch of instant noodles from South Korea. During laboratory tests, elevated levels of glycidyl esters of fatty acids were found in them. These substances are considered potentially carcinogenic and may increase the risk of developing cancer with prolonged consumption. As a result, the product was sent back to the country of origin. Another batch that did not pass inspection was dill from Uzbekistan. Residues of the banned pesticide propiconazole were found in the greens, which can negatively affect the liver and other organs with prolonged exposure. Violations were also identified in other products. Residues of two pesticides were found in ground black pepper from Vietnam, and a dye, the use of which is banned in the EU, was found in a Uzbek spice mix for pilaf. This batch was destroyed. According to Iveta Šice-Trede, director of the PVS border control department, non-compliance is most often found in spices, vegetables and fruits, tea, and sweets. When it comes to the countries of origin of the products, violations were most frequently recorded in goods from Uzbekistan, Russia, South Korea, China, Ecuador, and Afghanistan. The PVS emphasizes that checks at the external border of the European Union are aimed at preventing products that may pose a risk to consumer health from entering the market.