EU regulations due to come into force next month sets MRLs for mancozeb and other chemical inputs
New rules banning the import and sale of fruit and vegetables containing certain prohibited chemical residues has shaken the French market at the start of 2026.
The regulations, published on 5 January in the French official gazette, is scheduled to come into force on 8 February. Responding to growing consumer concerns about public health, it sets maximum residue limits for substances such as carbendazim, thiphanate-methyl, glufosinate, and mancozeb, affecting a wide range of fruits and vegetables, both fresh and processed.
In response to this situation, Montosa, a leading Spanish supplier of tropical fruit, has issued a statement guaranteeing compliance with the new regulations for all its products, both fresh and processed.
“At Montosa, we are pioneers in food quality and safety. In 2017, we took the initiative to integrate a microbiology laboratory into our facilities, equipping it with the latest technologies,” said Marta Santos, Montosa’s quality director.
“Mancozeb was already among the active substances analysed as part of our monitoring plan. That is why we can say with absolute certainty that all the fruit we distribute does not contain and has never contained residues of this substance.”
Montosa, which provides year-round products to some of Europe’s leading retail chains, said it prides itself in ensuring compliance with the strict requirements demanded by such customers.
”We have managed to stay at the forefront of a market that is very demanding in terms of technical specifications for agricultural waste. On the one hand, we face increasing restrictions from the European Union. On the other hand, food distribution chains impose their own standards, which are more rigorous and often more demanding than current regulations,” Santos said.
On Montosa’s communication with the more than 3,000 farmers who make up its network of partners in both Spain and Latin America, Santos noted: ”We are ahead of the curve in our commitment to food safety with our partners. Even so, we have once again strengthened communication with all our partner farmers so that they can integrate this new restriction into their cultivation and treatment practices.
“At Montosa, we are clear about the path forward: we will continue to invest in innovation, strengthening control over our products to guarantee their quality and comply with current legislation in the various destination countries”.
Montosa will be exhibiting at next month’s Fruit Logistica in hall 18 -B13. In addition, its commercial director Thierry Athimon will give a presentation on the global avocado market on the Fresh Produce Forum stage on Thursday at 11:30. Finally, as a member of the Global Women Fresh alliance for women’s equality in global agriculture, Montosa will be present at the event organised by the association on Friday from 10:00-12:00 on the Insights Stage.
