EFSA concluded that based on the basis of the tentative risk assessment, the long-term intake of phosphonic acid and fosetyl residues resulting from the existing and the intended uses of fosetyl-Al and potassium phosphonates is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health. However, the risk assessment is considered to be tentative and has to be updated as soon as the approval of the renewal of fosetyl and the review of existing uses of potassium phosphonates and disodium phosphonate is finalized.
EFSA proposes to amend the existing MRLs: replacing the existing MRL in almonds, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, macadamias, pistachios, walnuts at 75 ppm by 500 ppm1 or 400 ppm2, and in Brazil nuts, pecans, and pine nuts kernels at 2* ppm by 500 ppm1 or 400 ppm2.
1 Fosetyl-Al (sum of fosetyl, phosphonic acid and their salts, expressed as fosetyl).
2 Sum of fosetyl, phosphonic acid and their salts, expressed as phosphonic acid.
*: Indicates that the MRL is set at the limit of analytical quantification (LOQ).
Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for fosetyl-Al in tree nuts, pome fruit, peach and potato. EFSA Journal 2018;16(2):5161. 36 pp.