China: MRLs Update

In the Newsletter No. 187, INC announced that China prepared a draft standards on maximum residue limits (MRLs) in foods for 1,058 maximum residue limits (MRLs).The United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service has issued a GAIN Report containing an unofficial translation of this draft measure.Regarding nuts and dried fruits, the following MRLs have been proposed:

• Avermectin: peanut kernel at 0.05 ppm.
• Saflufenacil: nuts at 0.01* ppm.
• Imidacloprid: nuts at 0.01 ppm.
• Penthiopyrad: peanut and nuts at 0.05* ppm.
• Pyraclostrobin: raisin at 5 ppm, dried plums at 0.8 ppm; nuts (except pistachios) at 0.02 ppm; and pistachio at 1 ppm.
• Propineb: almond at 0.1 ppm.
• Glufosinate: dried plum at 0.3 ppm and nuts at 0.1 ppm.
• Pyrethrin: peanut and nuts at 0.5* ppm and dried fruit at 0.2* ppm.
• Diflubenzuron: peanut kernel at 0.1 ppm; dried plums at 0.5 ppm; and nuts at 0.2 ppm.
• Metiram: almond at 0.1 ppm.
• Mancozeb: almond at 0.1 ppm.
• Zineb: almond at 0.1 ppm.
• Acetamiprid: dried plums at 0.6 ppm and nuts at 0.06 ppm.
• Boscalid: raisin at 10 ppm; nuts (except pistachio) at 0.05* ppm; and pistachio at 1 ppm.
• Chlorpyrifos: dried plums at 0.5 ppm; almond and walnut at 0.05 ppm; and raisin at 0.1 ppm.
• Pendimethalin: peanut kernel at 0.1 ppm.
• Diazinon: almond at 0.05 ppm.
• Dinotefuran: raisin at 3 ppm.
• Flubendiamide: nuts at 0.1* ppm.
• Flusilazole: raisin at 0.3 ppm.
• Fluxapyroxad: peanut at 0.01* ppm and dried plums at 5* ppm.
• Thiram: almond at 0.1 ppm.
• Fludioxonil: pistachio at 0.2 ppm.
• Methoxyfenozide: peanut at 0.03 ppm; raisin and dried plums at 2 ppm; and nuts 0.1 ppm.
• Fenbuconazole: peanut at 0.1 ppm.
• Captan: raisin at 2 ppm.
• Bifenthrin: nuts at 0.05 ppm.
• Endosulfan: hazelnut and macadamia at 0.02* ppm.
• Spirodiclofen: raisin at 0.3 ppm and nuts at 0.05 ppm.
• Ethofenprox: raisin at 2 ppm.
• Cyprodinil: raisin at 5 ppm.
• Azoxystrobin: nuts (except pistachio) at 0.01 ppm; and pistachio at 1 ppm.
• Pyrimethanil: raisin at 5 ppm.
• Clothianidin: dried plums at 0.2 ppm and raisin at 1 ppm.
• Buprofenzin: raisin at 2 ppm; dried plums at 2 ppm; and almond at 0.05 ppm.
• Dimethomorph: raisin at 5 ppm.
• Diniconazole: peanut kernel at 0.5 ppm.
• Bromine cyantraniliprole: dried plums at 0.5* ppm.
• Deltamethrin: dried plums at 0.05 ppm.
• Iprodione: almond at 0.2 ppm.
• Indoxacarb: peanut kernel at 0.02 ppm; raisin at 5 ppm; and dried plums at 3 ppm.

* Means that the limit is a temporary MRL. A temporary MRL is usually set under the following four conditions:

1. The dietary risk assessment data is incomplete;
2. The Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) is temporary (ADI is used as the basis for MRL setting);
3. There is no surveillance or analysis method for the MRL that complies with the standard requirements;
4. In emergency situations, the pesticide is approved to be used on un-registered crops.

USDA GAIN Report: China Releases New Draft Standards for 1,058 MRL in Foods as SPS 1051