A draft regulation by the European Commission proposes to reduce the maximum residue levels on a number of pesticides including diazinon and fenarimol
The European Union has published a draft regulation revising maximum residue levels (MRLs) for several pesticides in food products, including changes affecting fresh fruit and vegetables.
Under the draft amendment to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the EU intends to lower the MRLs for diazinon and fenarimol to the limit of detection (LOD, 0.01 mg/kg) for various products. In effect, this means any detectable residues of these pesticides would no longer be permitted.
Limits for other pesticides such as azocyclotin, chlorfenapyr, dicofol, and endosulfan would also be lowered to levels between 0.01 and 0.03 mg/kg.
“For the active substance diazinon, for a number of plant commodities (almonds, cranberries, pineapples, radishes, onions, sweet pepper/bell peppers, sweet corn, Chinese cabbage/pe-tsai, kohlrabies, hops, seed spices, root and rhizomes spices, sugar beet roots),” the draft states. “For these plant commodities, the Authority concluded that the MRLs are not substantiated, hence, they should be lowered to the LOQ.”
For the active substance dicofol, applicable for melons, the Authority concluded that the existing MRLs are “not substantiated by sufficient toxicological data, hence, all MRLs are proposed to be lowered to the LOQ”.
The proposal continues: “For the active substance fenarimol, the Authority concluded that the existing MRLs are not substantiated by sufficient toxicological data for this active substance in or on apricots, cherries (sweet), peaches, table and wine grapes, strawberries, raspberries (red and yellow), currants (black, red and white), gooseberries (green, red and yellow), bananas, gherkins, courgettes, other cucurbit with edible peel, watermelons, other cucurbits with inedible peel and hops, hence, all these MRLs are proposed to be lowered to the LOQ.”
For the active substance fenpropathrin, the Authority concluded that the existing MRLs in citrus fruits, strawberries, melons and tea are not substantiated by sufficient toxicological data. All these MRLs are therefore proposed to be lowered to the LOQ.
“A reasonable period should be allowed to elapse before the new MRLs become applicable,” the draft states, “in order to permit Member States, third countries and food business operators to adapt themselves to the requirements which result from the modification of the MRLs.”
Read the draft here.
