Pesticides Update: November

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued the proposal to amend Schedule 20 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (October 20, 2020).
Among other changes, the table to section S20-3 in Schedule 20 is amended as follows:

‘T’ indicates that the maximum residue limit is a temporary maximum residue limit.
 
The deadline for comments is January 4, 2021.
 
The proposal can be found here.

Brazil: MRLs Update

The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency has notified the World Trade Organization of the draft resolutions regarding the active ingredients C38 – Chlorfluazuron, C70 – Chlorantraniliprole, P46 – Pyraclostrobin, and F68 – Fluxapyroxad of the Monograph List of Active Ingredients for Pesticides, Household Cleaning Products and Wood Preservers, published by Resolution RE n° 165 of 29 August 2003, on the Official Gazette (DOU Diário Oficial da União) of 2 September 2003.

• The MRL for chlorfluazuron in peanut culture is set at 0.01 ppm with a safety security period of 14 days.
• The MRL for chlorantraniliprole in peanut culture is set at 0.05 ppm with a safety security period of 7 days in the modality of foliar use. In addition, the MRL of the peanut culture is changed from 0.01 to 0.05 mg/kg, in the modality of soil use (application).
• The MRL for pyraclostrobin in plums is set at 1.5 ppm with a safety security period of 7 days.
• The MRL for fluxapyroxad in plums is set at 1.5 ppm with a safety security period of 7 days.

For chlorfluazuron, chlorantraniliprole, pyraclostrobin and fluxapyroxad the final date for comments is November 21, 2020.
 
C38 – Chlorfluazuron

C70 – Chlorantraniliprole
 
P46 – Pyraclostrobin
 
F68 – Fluxapyroxad

Canada: MRLs Update

Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency has adopted the proposed new maximum residue limits (PMRL) for glufosinate-ammonium.

The PMRLs for glufosinate-ammonium in tree nuts and in stone fruits was adopted on October 13, 2020. As previously announced, the MRL for glufosinate-ammonium in Tree nuts (crop group 14-11) is increased from 0.1 to 0.5 ppm; and in Stone fruits (crop group 12-09) from 0.2 to 0.3 ppm.

Health Canada Database

In addition, new maximum residue limits (PMRL) for pyrethrins and trifludimoxazin were proposed.
 
The PMRL for pyrethrins in low growing berries (crop subgroup 13-07G, except lowbush blueberries) is set at 0.15 ppm. The deadline for comments is January 3, 2021.
 
The PMRL for trifludimoxazin in tree nuts (crop group 14-11) and peanuts is set at 0.01 ppm. The deadline for comments is January 11, 2021.
 
Consultation on Pyrethrins, Proposed Maximum Residue Limit PMRL 2020-35

Consultation on Trifludimoxazin, Proposed Maximum Residue Limit PMRL2020-36

China: MRLs Update

As previously announced, China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs published a public consultation on Maximum Residue Limits of 187 Pesticides in or on food with due date for comments November 16, 2020.

An unofficial translation of the draft MRLs has been released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

EFSA: MRLs Review

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published the Review of the existing maximum residue levels for oxyfluorfen according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

Based on the assessment of the available data, maximum residue level (MRL) proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out. Although no apparent risk to consumers was identified, some information required by the regulatory framework was missing. Hence, the consumer risk assessment is considered indicative only and some MRL proposals still require further consideration by risk managers.
 

Substance	Commodity	Existing MRL (ppm)	Proposed MRL (ppm)	Comments
Oxyfluorfen	almonds, pistachios, walnuts, plums	0.05	0.01*	Recommended (MRL is derived from a GAP evaluated at EU level, which is fully supported by data and for which no risk to consumers is identified; no CXL is available)
	apricots, grapes	0.1	0.01*

 * Indicates lower limit of determination.

EFSA Review of the existing maximum residue levels for oxyfluorfen according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. EFSA Journal 2020;18(10):6269

EU: MRLs Update

The European Commission published the Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/1565 and the Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/1566, amending Annexes to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels of active substances in or on certain products.
 
As previously reported, Regulation (EU) 2020/1565 of 27 October 2020 amending Annexes II, III and IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for 1,4‐diaminobutane, 1-methylcyclopropene, ammonium acetate, bifenazate, chlorantraniliprole, chlormequat, cyprodinil, limestone, mandipropamid, pepper, pyridaben, repellants: blood meal, seaweed extracts and trimethylamine hydrochloride in or on certain products sets the following MRLs in nuts and dried fruits. The Regulation enters into force on November 17.

• Pyridaben: 0.05 ppm in tree nuts.

As previously reported, the Regulation (EU) 2020/1566 of 27 October 2020 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for bupirimate, carfentrazone-ethyl, ethirimol, and pyriofenone in or on certain products sets the following MRLs in nuts and dried fruits. The Regulation enters into force on November 17.

• Bupirimate: 0.01* ppm in tree nuts, plums, dates, figs and peanuts; and 1.5 ppm in grapes and cranberries.
• Ethirimol: 0.01* ppm in tree nuts, plums, dates, figs and peanuts; 0.04 ppm in apricots; 0.4 ppm in grapes; 2 ppm and in cranberries.
• Pyriofenone: 0.01* ppm in tree nuts, apricots, plums, dates, figs and peanuts.
• Carfentrazone-ethyl: 0.05* ppm in tree nuts and peanuts; and 0.02* ppm in apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates and figs. 

Regulation (EU) 2020/1565 of 27 October 2020

Regulation (EU) 2020/1566 of 27 October 2020

EU: Pesticides, Standing Committee

The Report of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, Section ‘Phytopharmaceuticals – Pesticide Residues’ that took place on September 28-29, 2020, has been published (summary).

Some of the discussions were the following:
 

• Chlorothalonil. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the residue trials supporting the MRL for peanuts do not lead to a change of the existing MRL (0.1 ppm).  
• The following draft regulations had a favorable opinion:
  • Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a draft Commission Regulation (EU) No …/…amending Annexes II and IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for aclonifen, boscalid, etofenprox, ferric pyrophosphate, L-cysteine, lambdacyhalothrin, maleic hydrazide, mefentrifluconazole, cow milk, sodium 5- nitroguaiacolate, sodium o-nitrophenolate, sodium p-nitrophenolate and triclopyr in or on certain products (Art. 10) (here).
    • The MRL for mefentrifluconazole in apricots is set at 0.7 ppm, in prunes at 0.5 ppm, and in grapes at 0.9 ppm.
  • Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a draft Commission Regulation (EU) No …/…amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for diclofop, fluopyram, ipconazole and terbuthylazine in or on certain products (Art. 12) (here).
    • The MRL for diclofop in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.02* ppm.
    • The MRL for fluopyram in tree nuts is set at 0.03 ppm, in prunes at 0.6 ppm, in grapes at 2 ppm, in cranberries at 4 ppm, and in peanuts at 0.02.
    • The MRL for terbuthylazine in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
  • Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a draft Commission Regulation (EU) No …/…amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for fluxapyroxad, hymexazol, metamitron, penflufen and spirotetramat (Art. 12) (here).
    • The MRL for fluxapyroxad in apricots is set at 0.15 ppm.
    • The MRL for hymexazol in apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates and figs is set at 0.02* ppm.
    • The MRL for metamitron in tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
    • The MRL for penflufen in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
    • The MRL for spirotetramat in cranberries is set at 1.5 ppm, and in dates, figs and peanuts at 0.02* ppm.
  • Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a draft Commission Regulation (EU) No …/…amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, dichlobenil, fluopicolide, proquinazid, and pyrdalyl (Art. 12) (here).
    • The MRL for benalaxyl (including benalaxyl-M) in tree nuts, apricots, plums, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm, and in grapes at 0.7 ppm.
    • The MRL for dichlobenil in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
    • The MRL for proquinazid in apricots, plums, cranberries, dates and figs is set at 0.01* ppm.
    • The MRL for pyrdalyl in peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
  • Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a draft Commission Regulation (EU) No …/…amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for carbon tetrachloride, chlorothalonil, chlorpropham, dimethoate, ethoprophos, fenamidone, methiocarb, omethoate, propiconazole and pymetrozine in or on certain products (here).
    • The MRL for chlorothalonil in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
    • The MRL for dimethoate in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
    • The MRL for ethoprophos in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
    • The MRL for fenamidone in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
    • The MRL for methiocarb in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.03* ppm.
    • The MRL for omethoate in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
    • The MRL for propiconazole in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
    • The MRL for pymetrozine in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.02* ppm.
  • Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a draft Commission Regulation (EU) No …/…amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for chlordecone in or on certain products (here).

 

Japan: MRLs Update

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan notified the World Trade Organization of the Revision of the Standards and Specifications for Foods and Food Additives under the Food Sanitation Act (revision of agricultural chemical residue standards).
 
As for nuts and dried fruits, the following MRLs were proposed:

• The MRL for pyrifluquinazon in apricot is lowered from 3 ppm to 5 ppm.
• The MRL for pyrifluquinazon in apricot is lowered from 3 ppm to 5 ppm.

 
The deadline for comments is December 18, 2020.
 
In addition, the following proposed MRLs, previously notified, were adopted:

• The MRL for permethrin was adopted on June 18, 2020. As previously announce, the MRL in cranberry, date and pecan is set at 0.01 ppm, in walnut at 0.05 ppm, and in grape at 8.0 ppm.

For further information, please contact us at inc@nutfruit.org.

New Zealand: MRLs Update

On October 7, 2020, the Ministry for Primary Industries of New Zealand published the ‘Food Notice: Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds’.
 
This document specifies maximum residue levels (MRLs) for agricultural compounds in food and specifies agricultural compounds for which no maximum residue level applies in relation to specified food subject to specified conditions. It revokes and replaces the Food Notice: Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds, issued on August 25, 2020.
 
This Notice came into force on October 9, 2020.
 
Food Notice: Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds (October 7, 2020)