Pesticide residues are an agricultural risk that can concentrate during extraction. A multi-residue panel is the usual screen; the panel scope, reporting limits, and laboratory accreditation determine whether a pass is meaningful for your market.
How the method works
Samples are extracted with an organic solvent, often using a QuEChERS-type procedure, and cleaned up to remove matrix interference. The extract is analyzed by LC-MS/MS for polar and semi-polar pesticides and by GC-MS/MS for more volatile compounds. Each analyte is identified by retention time and characteristic transitions, then quantified against standards.
No single panel covers every pesticide. Laboratories maintain panels of several hundred compounds and update them as regulations change. The panel should be appropriate to the herb, the origin, and the destination market's MRL list.
What it can prove
- Whether targeted pesticides are present above the reporting limit.
- Whether the lot meets the MRLs or buyer limits applied.
- A documented agricultural contaminant check for the batch.
Where it stops
- Only covers the compounds in the panel.
- A 'not detected' result depends on the reporting limit.
- Does not establish organic certification.
Reading a pesticide report
Look for the panel size, the list of compounds, the reporting limit for each, and whether any result is above the limit. 'None detected' without a reporting limit is weaker than '<0.01 mg/kg', because the latter tells you the level below which the laboratory could not quantify.
Ethylene oxide is usually tested separately and is a distinct concern from field pesticides. Organic certification also requires a different verification path; a pesticide test alone does not establish organic status.
Reading the result on a COA
- Check panel size and reporting limits.
- Confirm the panel matches the herb and destination.
- Ask whether ethylene oxide was tested separately.
What to ask a supplier
How many compounds are in the panel?
What are the reporting limits, and are they below the relevant MRLs?
Is the laboratory accredited for these methods?
Related terms
References and further reading
External links are provided for orientation. Methods, limits, and acceptance criteria differ by market and product; confirm the applicable requirements with your regulatory advisor.
Cite this page
Rainwood Botanical. "Pesticide residue testing for botanical extracts." October 2026. https://ingredients.rainwoodbio.com/resources/methods/pesticide-residues/