Two inspectors have taken soil samples from Burmarrad fields after Times of Malta reported the dumping of sewage on crops, but the Agriculture Department, the Malta Resources Authority and the Environmental Health Department continue to point fingers at each other.

Times of Malta reported a farmer’s three-year struggle to stop the illegal dumping of sewage on crops, which he blamed for the high levels of cancer-causing nitrates in his groundwater supply. Paul Abela said farmers in adjacent fields were paying bowsers about €13 to dump slurry (sewage) over their crops, a practice that is illegal.

The newspaper asked a series of questions with the aim of eliciting a guarantee that agricultural produce available on the market is safe for consumption. No such guarantee was forthcoming. The Environmental Health Department eventually confirmed it received a complaint about bad farming practices in Burmarrad last year.

It did say food safety tests were held “at least once a year” through checks on spinach and lettuce, carried out in an “ad hoc sampling programme”. This year, a farmer’s market, wholesale market and some retailers are being targeted.

The Environmental Health Directorate said the first step to ensuring food safety was the prevention of bad practices, which fell under the responsibility of the Agriculture Department.

The Agriculture Department said that the issue did not fall under its remit.

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