6 August 2020|In Legal Update, News

Pesticides Update: August

Australia and New Zealand: MRLs Update

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued the Variations to Schedule 20 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (July 7, 2020).

 The table to section S20-3 in Schedule 20 is amended as follows:
 
  • The maximum residue limits (MRLs) for uniconazole-p in walnuts at T*0.01 ppm is inserted.
 
* indicates that the maximum residue limit is set at the limit of determination.
‘T’ indicates that the maximum residue limit is a temporary maximum residue limit.
 
Deadline for comments is August 11, 2020.
 
The amendment can be found here (pp. 19-23).
 

Brazil: MRLs Update

 
The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency has notified the World Trade Organization of the draft resolutions regarding the active ingredients E32 – Espinetoram (Spinetoram), P34 – Piriproxifem (pyriproxyfen), F36 – Flutriafol, D41 – Diafentiurom (diafenthiuron), D55 – Dinotefuran, C70 – Clorantraniliprole (Chlorantraniliprole) 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 espinetoram in macadamia nut culture is set at 0.07 ppm with a safety security period of 3 days.
  • The MRL for piriproxifem in groundnut culture is set at 0.01 ppm with a safety security period of 14 days.
  • The MRL for flutriafol in groundnut culture is set at 0.1 ppm (modality of foliar use) with a safety security period of 14 days.
  • The MRL for diafentiurom in groundnut culture is set at 0.3 ppm with a safety security period of 14 days.
  • The MRL for dinotefuran in groundnut culture is set at 0.09 ppm with a safety security period of 14 days.
  • The MRL for clorantraniliprole in groundnut culture is set at 0.05 ppm (modality of foliar use) with a safety security period of 7 days. In addition, the MRL is increased from 0.01 to 0.05 ppm in groundnut culture in the modality of soil use.
 
For espinetoram, piriproxifem, flutriafol, diafentiurom, dinotefuran, and clorantraniliprole the final date for comments is August 29, 2020.
 
E32 – Espinetoram
P34 – Piriproxifem
F36 – Flutriafol
D41 – Diafentiurom
D55 – Dinotefuran
C70 – Clorantraniliprole
 

Canada: MRLs Update

 

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

The PMRL for inpyrfluxam in peanuts is set at 0.01 ppm. The final date for comments is September 8, 2020.
 
The PMRL 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. The final date for comments is September 28, 2020.
 
Consultation on Inpyrfluxam, Proposed Maximum Residue Limit PMRL2020-23
Consultation on Glufosinate-Ammonium, Proposed Maximum Residue Limit PMRL2020-07
 

China: MRLs Update

 
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.) notified the World Trade Organization of the National Food Safety Standard of the P.R.C.: Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Foods.

This standard establishes 589 maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the residues of 67 pesticides, including chlorpyrifos, in or on foods. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service has published a GAIN report with an unofficial translation of the draft MRLs. Regarding nuts and dried fruits, the following MRLs were listed:
 

  • Chlorantraniliprole: plum at 0.3* ppm.
  • Chlorpyrifos: apricot at 3 ppm.
  • Pyraclostrobin: dried figs at 30 ppm and apricot at 3 ppm.
  • Spirotetramat: plum at 5* ppm.
 
*The MRL is the temporary limit.

The final date for comments is September 13, 2020. There is no proposed date of entry into force.

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

EFSA: MRLs Review

 
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published the Reasoned Opinion on the review of the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for amisulbrom and etofenprox.

To assess the occurrence of amisulbrom residues, EFSA considered the conclusions derived in the framework of Commission Regulation (EU) No 188/2011, as well as the authorizations reported by Member States (including the supporting residues data). Based on the assessment of the available data, MRL proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out.
 
To modify the existing MRL for the active substance etofenprox in plums, the data submitted were found to be sufficient to derive a proposal. EFSA concluded that the short‐term and long‐term intake of residues resulting from the existing and intended uses of etofenprox, according to the reported agricultural practices, is unlikely to present a risk to the consumer.
 

Substance Commodity Existing MRL (ppm) Proposed MRL (ppm) Comments
Amisulbrom grapes 0.5 0.4 Recommended
Etofenprox plums 0.01* 0.2 The submitted data are sufficient. Risk for consumers unlikely.

EFSA: Import Tolerances

 
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published the Reasoned Opinions on setting import tolerances for abamectin.
 
After the request of setting import tolerances for the active substance abamectin in various commodities imported from the US, EFSA concluded that the short-term and long-term intake of residues resulting from the use of abamectin, according to the reported agricultural practices, is unlikely to present a risk to the consumer.
 
EFSA proposes to amend the existing MRL in tree nuts as follows:
 
Commodity Existing EU MRL (ppm) Proposed EU MRL (ppm) Comments
Tree nuts 0.01* 0.01*
The submitted data are sufficient to derive an import tolerance at the LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg for the whole group of tree nuts.
US tolerance: 0.01 mg/kg.
Risk for consumers unlikely.

EFSA: Pesticides and Bees

 
On July 28, 2020, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a Review of the evidence on bee background mortality, as part of its ongoing review of the guidance for assessing risks to bees from pesticides.
 
The report, which covers the three bee groups (honey, bumble and solitary bees), aims to strengthen existing knowledge by adopting a more systematic approach, and widen the scope of the analysis beyond mortality of forager bees. This document is based on the largest systematic collection of evidence on mortality rates ever carried out.
 
EFSA Review of the evidence on bee background mortality. EFSA Supporting publication 2020:EN-1880
 

EU: MRLs Update

 
On July 23, 2020, the European Commission published the Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/1085 of 23 July 2020 amending Annexes II and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl in or on certain products.
 
On July 30, the Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/1085 was amended by a Corrigendum, where the annex with the new MRLs was included and the application date was corrected.
 
The Regulation lowers all the MRL for chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl to 0.01* ppm. It shall apply from November 13, 2020.
 
Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/1085 of 23 July 2020 
Corrigendum to Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/1085 of 23 July 2020
 

EU: MRLs Update, Draft Commission Regulations

 

The European Commission notified the World Trade Organization of several draft regulations amending Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for substances in or on certain products.

Draft Commission Regulation (EU) 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. 
 
The deadline for comments is September 13, 2020. The proposed date of adoption is January 2021. It is expected to be published in February 2021.
 
  • The MRL for chlorothalonil is lowered from 1 to 0.01* ppm in apricots; from 3 to 0.01 ppm in grapes; from 5 to 0.01* in cranberries; and from 0.1 to 0.01* ppm in peanuts.
  • The MRL for ethoprophos is lowered from 0.02* to 0.01* ppm in tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts.
 
Draft Commission Regulation 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 benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, dichlobenil, fluopicolide, proquinazid and pyridalyl in or on certain products.  
 
The deadline for comments is September 13, 2020. The proposed date of adoption is February 2021. It is expected to be published in April 2021.
 
  • The MRL for proquinazid is lowered from 0.02* to 0.01* ppm in apricots, plums, cranberries, dates and figs.
  • The MRL for pyrdalyl in peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
  • The MRL for benalaxyl is lowered from 0.05* to 0.01* ppm in tree nuts, apricots, plums, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts; and is increased from 0.3 to 0.7 ppm in grapes.
  • The MRL for dichlobenil in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
 
Draft Commission Regulation 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 fluxapyroxad, hymexazol, metamitron, penflufen and spirotetramat in or on certain products.  
 
The deadline for comments is September 13, 2020. The proposed date of adoption is February 2021. It is expected to be published in April 2021.
 
  • The MRL for fluxapyroxad is lowered from 1 to 0.15 ppm in apricots.
  • The MRL for hymexazol is lowered from 0.05* to 0.02* ppm in apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates and figs.
  • The MRL for metamitron is lowered from 0.1* to 0.01* ppm in tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts.
  • The MRL for penflufen in tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.1* ppm.
  • The MRL for spirotetramat is increased from 0.7 to 1.5 ppm in cranberries; and lowered from 0.1* to 0.02* ppm in dates, figs and peanuts.
 
Draft Commission Regulation 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 acequinocyl, cycloxydim, diclofop, fluopyram, ipconazole and terbuthylazine in or on certain products.  
 
The deadline for comments is September 7, 2020. The proposed date of adoption is September 2020. It is expected to be published in October 2020.
 
  • The MRL for acequinocyl is lowered from 0.02 to 0.01* ppm in almonds; and is increased from 0.02 to 0.03 ppm in plums; and from 0.3 to 0.8 ppm in grapes.
  • The MRL for cycloxydim is increased from 0.05* to 0.09* ppm in tree nuts, cranberries, dates, and figs; and is lowered from 0.2 to 0.09* ppm in apricots and peanuts; and from 0.5 to 0.4 ppm in grapes.
  • The MRL for diclofop is lowered from 0.05* to 0.02* ppm in tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts. 
  • The MRL for fluopyram is lowered from 0.05 to 0.03 ppm in tree nuts, and from 0.2 to 0.02 ppm in peanuts; and is increased from 0.5 to 0.6 ppm in plums; from 1.5 to 2 ppm in grapes; and from 3 to 4 ppm in cranberries.
  • The MRL for terbuthylazine is lowered from 0.05* to 0.01* ppm in tree nuts, apricots, plums, cranberries, dates and figs; and from 0.1 to 0.01* ppm in grapes and peanuts.
 
* Indicates lower limit of determination.
 
For further information, please contact us at inc@nutfruit.org.
 

EU: Pesticides, Standing Committee

 
The Report of the Standing Committee of the Section ‘Phytopharmaceuticals’, held on June 15-16, 2020, has been published.
 
Some of the discussions were the following:
  • Fosetyl-Al. The European Commission presented the mandate to EFSA on the joint review of MRLs for fosetyl and phosphonates, which includes references to both the current Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) for phosphonic acid and the new, lower ADI derived in the procedure for the renewal of approval of fosetyl.
 
  • The following draft regulations had favorable opinion:
    • Draft Commission Regulation (EU) No …/…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, blood meal, chlorantraniliprole, chlormequat, cyprodinil, fluxapyroxad, fosetyl, , limestone, mandipropamid, pepper, pyridaben, seaweed extracts, spirotetramat and trimethylamine hydrochloride in or on certain products (here).
      • The MRL for pyridaben in tree nuts is set at 0.05 ppm.
    • 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 azinphos-methyl, bentazone, dimethomorph, fludioxonil, flufenoxuron, oxadiazon, phosalone, pyraclostrobin, repellants: tall oil and teflubenzuron in or on certain products (SPS) (here).
      • The MRL for azinphos-methyl in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
      • The MRL for pyraclostrobin in grapes is set at 0.3 ppm.
      • The MRL for oxadiazon in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
    • 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 of the Committee as regards maximum residue levels for bupirimate, carfentrazone-ethyl, ethirimol and pyriofenone in or on certain products (Art. 12) (here).
      • The MRL for bupirimate in tree nuts, plums, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm; and in grapes and cranberries at 1.5 ppm.
      • The MRL for ethirimol in tree nuts, plums, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm; in apricots at 0.04 ppm; in grapes at 0.4 ppm; and in cranberries at 2 ppm.
      • The MRL for pyriofenone in tree nuts, apricots, plums, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
      • The MRL for carfentrazone-ethyl in tree nuts and peanuts is set at 0.05* ppm; and in apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates and figs at 0.02* ppm.
 
  • The following draft regulations were presented for discussion:
    • Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for metam, dazomet, hexythiazox, clethodim and sethoxydim (Art. 12) (here).
      • The MRL for clethodim in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.02* ppm.
      • The MRL for metam in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
      • The MRL for hexythiazox in tree nuts is set at 0.05 ppm; in apricots and plums at 0.7 ppm; and in cranberries, figs and peanuts at 0.01* ppm.
      • The MRL for sethoxydim in tree nuts and peanuts is set at 0.02* ppm; and in apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates and figs at 0.01* ppm.
    • Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for acequinocyl, cycloxydim, diclofop, fluopyram, ipconazole and terbuthylazine in or on certain products (here).
    • Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for fluxapyroxad, hymexazol, metamitron, penflufen and spirotetramat (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, plums, 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.
    • Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, dichlobenil, fluopicolide, proquinazid, and pyrdalyl (here).
      • 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.
      • The MRL for benalaxyl in tree nuts, apricots, plums, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts 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.
    • Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for ametoctradin, bixafen, fenazaquin, spinetoram, tefluthrin and thiencarbazone-methyl in or on certain products (here).
      • The MRL for fenazaquin in apricots and plums is set at 0.01* ppm.
      • The MRL for spinetoram in tree nuts, plums, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.02* ppm; in apricots at 0.2 ppm; and in grapes and cranberries at 0.4 ppm.
      • The MRL for tefluthrin in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
      • The MRL for thiencarbazone-methyl in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
    • Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for carbon tetrachloride, chlorothalonil, chlorpropham, dimethoate, ethoprophos, fenamidone, methiocarb, omethoate, propiconazole and pymetrozine in or on certain products.
    • Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for chlordecone in or on certain products.
 
* Indicates lower limit of determination.
 
Summary report
 

USA: MRLs Update

 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established tolerances for residues of oxathiapiprolin and hexythiazoxin or on multiple commodities.
 
Among others, the tolerance of oxathiapiprolin in cranberry is set at 0.4 ppm and in Nut, tree, group 14-12 at 0.01 ppm. This regulation is effective since July 6, 2020. Objections and requests must be received on or before September 4, 2020.
 
Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 129. Monday, July 6, 2020. Pages 40118-40122
 
Among others, the tolerance of hexythiazoxin in Date, dried is set at 3 ppm. This regulation is effective since July 20, 2020. Objections and requests must be received on or before September 18, 2020.
 
Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 139. Monday, July 20, 2020. Pages 43697-43699

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