EU: Glyphosate, Update
According to FRUCOM, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) expects their Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) opinion on the classification of glyphosate under the Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation to be finalized in May-June 2022.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will take the outcome of ECHA’s opinion into account in its peer review, which is expected to be finalized in the second half of 2022.
Glyphosate is currently approved for use in the EU until December 15, 2022.
More information
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will take the outcome of ECHA’s opinion into account in its peer review, which is expected to be finalized in the second half of 2022.
Glyphosate is currently approved for use in the EU until December 15, 2022.
More information
EU: MRLs, Update
The European Commission published the Regulation (EU) 2022/78 of 19 January 2022, modifying the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for dazomet, hexythiazox, metam and methylisothiocyanate in or on certain products.
Among others, the following MRLs (mg/kg) are listed:
| Code number | Product | Methylisothiocyanate (resulting from the use of dazomet or metam) | Hexythiazox (any ratio of constituent isomers) (F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0120000 | Tree nuts | 0.01 (*) | 0.05 |
| 0140010 | Apricots | 0.01 (*) | 0.7 (+) |
| 0140040 | Plums | 0.01 (*) | 0.7 (+) |
| 0151000 | Grapes | 0.01 (*) | 1 |
| 0154020 | Cranberries | 0.01 (*) | 0.01 (*) |
| 0161000 | Dates | 0.01 (*) | 2 |
| 0161020 | Figs | 0.01 (*) | 0.01 (*) |
| 0401020 | Peanuts | 0.01 (*) | 0.01 (*) |
(*) Limit of analytical determination
(+) The European Food Safety Authority identified some information on residue trials unavailable. See footnotes in the Regulation.
The Regulation shall apply from August 9, 2022.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/78 of 19 January 2022 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 dazomet, hexythiazox, metam and methylisothiocyanate in or on certain products
(+) The European Food Safety Authority identified some information on residue trials unavailable. See footnotes in the Regulation.
The Regulation shall apply from August 9, 2022.
Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/78 of 19 January 2022 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 dazomet, hexythiazox, metam and methylisothiocyanate in or on certain products
US: Chlorpyrifos, FDA Guidance for Industry
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the guidance document, ‘Questions and Answers Regarding Channels of Trade Policy for Human Food Commodities with Chlorpyrifos Residues: Guidance for Industry’, intended to help food producers and processors who handle foods that may contain residues of the pesticide chemical chlorpyrifos.
The final rule, ‘Tolerance Revocations: Chlorpyrifos’, published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on August 30, 2021, revoked all tolerances for chlorpyrifos; these tolerances are set to expire on February 28, 2022.
The FDA’s approach has two phases and applies to both raw agricultural commodities and processed foods:
The final rule, ‘Tolerance Revocations: Chlorpyrifos’, published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on August 30, 2021, revoked all tolerances for chlorpyrifos; these tolerances are set to expire on February 28, 2022.
The FDA’s approach has two phases and applies to both raw agricultural commodities and processed foods:
- Stage 1: The FDA intends to exercise enforcement discretion by not requesting showing documentation for residues complying with previous tolerances for a time period ranging from approx. 6-24 months, depending on the commodity. This is based on their estimate of how long raw agricultural commodities would remain on the market (e.g., time for growing and postharvest storage, distribution, and sale).
- Stage 2: The Agency will accept showing documentation that demonstrates that chlorpyrifos was applied before February 28, 2022. If the responsible party does not provide appropriate documentation, the food may be subject to regulatory action.