Pesticides Update: December

Australia: MRLS Update

• The MRL for acequinocyl in apricots, dried, and prunes set at 1 ppm is omitted.
• The MRL for fludioxonil in dried grapes (currants, raisins and sultanas) set at 5 ppm is omitted.
• The MRL for pydiflumetofen in dried grapes (currants, raisins and sultanas) set at 5 ppm is omitted.

Brazil: MRLs Update

• The MRL for mandipropamid in macadamia nuts culture is set at 2.0 ppm with a safety security period of 1 day. In grape culture, the MRL is set at 0.6 ppm with a safety security period of 7 days.
• The MRL for flubendiamide in peanuts changes from 0.01 to 0.07 ppm.
• The MRL for acibenzolar-S-methyl in Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts, pecan nuts and pine nuts I set at 0.2 ppm with a safety security period of 1 day.
• The MRL for alpha-cypermethrin in peanuts is set at 0.05 ppm with a safety security period of 15 days.
• The MRL for chlorpyrifos in peanuts is set at 0.1 ppm with a safety security period of 25 days.
• The MRL for glyphosate in pecan nuts is set at 0.1 ppm with a safety security period of 15 days.

Canada: MRLs Update

EU: Pesticides, Extension of Approval Periods

The European Commission published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1643 of 5 November 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 as regards the approval periods of the active substances calcium phosphide, denathonium benzoate, haloxyfop-P, imidacloprid, pencycuron and zeta-cypermethrin.
 
This regulation entered into force on November 26, 2020.
 
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1643 of 5 November 2020

EU: MRLs Update

 The European Commission published the Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/1633 of 27 October 2020 amending Annexes II, III, IV 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.

As previously announced, the Regulation establishes the following MRLs:

• 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 oxadiazon 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.

EU: MRLs Update, Draft Commission Regulations

The European Commission notified the World Trade Organization of the two Draft Commission Regulations amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels.
 
As regards maximum residue levels in nuts and dried fruits for clethodim, dazomet, hexythiazox, metam and sethoxydim in or on certain products, the following MRL are amended (see previous post):

• The MRL for clethodim in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is lowered from 0.1 to 0.02* ppm.
• The MRL for metam in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is lowered from 0.02* to 0.01* ppm.
• The MRL for hexythiazox in tree nuts is lowered from 0.5 ppm to 0.05 ppm; in apricots is lowered from 1 ppm to 0.7 ppm; in plums is increased from 0.5 ppm to 0.7 ppm; in cranberries, figs and peanuts is lowered from 0.5 ppm to 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.

 
The deadline for comments is January 4, 2021. The proposed date of adoption is July 2021. It is expected to be published in October 2021.
 
As regards maximum residue levels in nuts and dried fruits for ametoctradin, bixafen, fenazaquin, spinetoram, tefluthrin and thiencarbazone-methyl in or on certain products, the following MRL are amended:
 

• The MRL for fenazaquin is lowered from 0.2 to 0.01* ppm in grapes.
• The MRL for spinetoram is lowered from 0.05* to 0.02* ppm in tree nuts, plums, dates, figs and peanuts; and from 0.5 to 0.4 ppm in grapes.
• The MRL for tefluthrin is lowered from 0.05 to 0.01* ppm in tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs, and peanuts.
• The MRL for thiencarbazone-methyl is set at 0.01* ppm in tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs, and peanuts.

 
The deadline for comments is January 12, 2021. The proposed date of adoption is February 2021. It is expected to be published in March 2021.

EU: Pesticides, Renewal Procedures

On November 23, 2020, the European Commission published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1740 of 20 November 2020 setting out the provisions necessary for the implementation of the renewal procedure for active substances.
 
This Regulation establishes rules on the procedure for the renewal of the approval of active substances within the meaning of Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, and shall apply to the renewal of the approval of active substances whose approval period ends on or after March 27, 2024.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1740 of 20 November 2020

Japan: MRLs Update

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) 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 cartap, thiocyclam and bensultap in apricot, cranberry, date, pecan, almond, walnut, and other nuts is lowered from 3 ppm to 0.01 ppm; and in grape from 3 ppm to 2 ppm. The deadline for comments in January 5, 2021.
• The MRL for myclobutanil in apricot is increased from 2 ppm to 3 ppm; in Japanese plum (including prune) from 0.5 ppm to 2 ppm; and in raisin from 0.01 ppm to 6 ppm. However, in cranberry and date is lowered from 1 ppm to 0.01 ppm; and in grape from 1 ppm to 0.9 ppm. The deadline for comments is January 19, 2021.
• The MRL for deltamethrin and tralomethrin in grape is lowered from 0.7 ppm to 0.6 ppm. The deadline for comments is January 19, 2021.

In addition, the MRLs for dieldrin, benfuracarb, carbofuran and carbaryl previously notified were adopted and published on July 14, 2020.

• The MRL for dieldrin in peanuts, pecan, almond, walnut and other nuts is lowered from 0.06 ppm to 0.05 ppm; in apricot, cranberry and date from 0.05 ppm to 0.01 ppm. In addition, in grape is newly set at 0.01 ppm.
• The MRL for benfuracarb in peanuts is lowered from 0.3 ppm to 0.02 ppm; in apricot, cranberry, grape, date, pecan, almond, walnut and other nuts from 0.5 ppm to 0.01 ppm.
• The MRL for carbofuran in peanuts is lowered from 0.2 ppm to 0.1 ppm; in apricot, cranberry, grape, date, pecan, almond, walnut and other nuts from 0.3 ppm to 0.01 ppm.
• The MRL for carbaryl in peanuts is lowered from 5 ppm to 0.05 ppm; in apricot from 10 ppm to 0.01 ppm; in cranberry form 7 ppm to 5 ppm; in grape from 1.0 ppm to 0.01 ppm; and in date from 2 ppm to 0.01 ppm.

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

USA: MRLs Update

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has established tolerances for residues of mefenoxam and indoxacarb in or on multiple commodities.
 
Among others, the tolerance of mefenoxam in tree nut, crop group 14-12 is set at 0.3 ppm. This regulation is effective since November 13, 2020. Objections and requests must be received on or before January 12, 2021.
 
The tolerance of indoxacarb in tree nut, crop group 14-12 is set at 0.08 ppm. This regulation is effective since November 16, 2020. Objections and requests must be received on or before January 15, 2021.
 
Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 220. Friday, November 13, 2020. Pages 72571-72574

Federal Register Vol. 85, No. 221. Monday, November 16, 2020. Pages 72968-72971