Pesticides Update: October

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued the Variations to Schedule 20 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (September 8, 2020).
 
 The table to section S20-3 in Schedule 20 is amended as follows:

Deadline for comments is October 6, 2020.

The amendment can be found here.

The Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency has notified the World Trade Organization of the draft resolution regarding the active ingredient F66 – Flubendiamida 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 final date for comments is October 24, 2020.
 
F66 – Flubendiamida

Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency has adopted the proposed new maximum residue limits (PMRL) for fenpropathrin in tree nuts and inpyrfluxam in peanuts.
 
As previously announced, the PMRLs for fenpropathrin in tree nuts was adopted on September 6, 2020. The MRL for fenpropathrin in tree nuts (crop group 14-11) is set at 0.15 ppm, replacing the currently established MRL of 0.10 ppm.
 
The MRL for inpyrfluxam in peanuts is set at 0.01 ppm since September 23, 2020.
 
Health Canada Database
 
In addition, the Agency has proposed new maximum residue limits (PMRL) for oxathiapiprolin.
 
The PMRL for oxathiapiprolin in raisins is set at 1.3 ppm. The final date for comments is December 6, 2020.
 
Consultation on oxathiapiprolin, Proposed Maximum Residue Limit PMRL2020-31

China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs published a public consultation on Maximum Residue Limits of 187 Pesticides in or on food with due date for comments November 16, 2020.
 
For further information, please contact us at inc@nutfruit.org.

EFSA: MRLs Review

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published the Review of the existing maximum residue levels for chlorantraniliprole according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

Based on the assessment of the available data, maximum residue level (MRL) proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out. Although no apparent risk to consumers was identified, some information required by the regulatory framework was missing. Hence, the consumer risk assessment is considered indicative only and some MRL proposals still require further consideration by risk managers.
 

Substance	Commodity	Existing MRL (ppm)	Proposed MRL (ppm)	Comments
Chlorantraniliprole	Almonds, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, hazelnuts, macadamia, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts	0.05	0.03	MRL is derived from a GAP evaluated at EU level, which is fully supported by data and for which no risk to consumers is identified.

 * Indicates lower limit of determination.

EFSA Review of the existing maximum residue levels for chlorantraniliprole according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. EFSA Journal 2020;18(9):6235

EU: Pesticide Withdrawals

The approval of the active substance benalaxyl has not been renewed (see previous post).

On September 15, 2020, the European Commission published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1280 of 14 September 2020 concerning the non-renewal of the approval of the active substance benalaxyl.
 
Member States shall withdraw authorizations for plant protection products containing benalaxyl as an active substance by April 5, 2021. However, any grace period granted by Member States shall expire by October 5, 2021, at the latest. This Regulation shall enter into force on October 5, 2020.
 
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1280 of 14 September 2020

EU: Pesticides, Standing Committee

The last meeting of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, Section Phytopharmaceuticals – Residues, took place in September 28-29, 2020 (agenda).
 
The following drafts were presented for an opinion:

• Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a draft Commission Regulation (EU) No …/…amending Annexes II and IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for aclonifen, boscalid, etofenprox, ferric pyrophosphate, L-cysteine, lambdacyhalothrin, maleic hydrazide, mefentrifluconazole, cow milk, sodium 5- nitroguaiacolate, sodium o-nitrophenolate, sodium p-nitrophenolate and triclopyr in or on certain products (Art. 10) (here).
  • The MRL for mefentrifluconazole in apricots is set at 0.7 ppm, in prunes at 0.5 ppm, and in grapes at 0.9 ppm.
• Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a 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 diclofop, fluopyram, ipconazole and terbuthylazine in or on certain products (Art. 12) (here).
  • The MRL for diclofop in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.02* ppm.
  • The MRL for fluopyram in tree nuts is set at 0.03 ppm, in prunes at 0.6 ppm, in grapes at 2 ppm, in cranberries at 4 ppm, and in peanuts at 0.02.
  • The MRL for terbuthylazine in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
• Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a 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 fluxapyroxad, hymexazol, metamitron, penflufen and spirotetramat (Art. 12) (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, prunes, 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.
• Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a 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 benalaxyl, benalaxyl-M, dichlobenil, fluopicolide, proquinazid, and pyrdalyl (Art. 12) (here).
  • The MRL for benalaxyl (including benalaxyl-M) in tree nuts, apricots, plums, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set 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.
  • 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.
• Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a 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 carbon tetrachloride, chlorothalonil, chlorpropham, dimethoate, ethoprophos, fenamidone, methiocarb, omethoate, propiconazole and pymetrozine in or on certain products (here).
  • The MRL for chlorothalonil in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
  • The MRL for dimethoate in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
  • The MRL for ethoprophos in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
  • The MRL for fenamidone in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
  • The MRL for methiocarb in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.03* ppm.
  • The MRL for omethoate in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
  • The MRL for propiconazole in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.01* ppm.
  • The MRL for pymetrozine in tree nuts, apricots, prunes, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts is set at 0.02* ppm.
• Exchange of views and possible opinion of the Committee on a draft Commission Regulation (EU) No …/…amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for chlordecone in or on certain products (here).

The drafts presented for discussion were the following:

• Exchange of views of the Committee on a 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.
• Exchange of views of the Committee on a draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for ametoctradin, bixafen, fenazaquin, spinetoram, tefluthrin and thiencarbazone-methyl in or on certain products (Art. 12) (here).

India: MRLs Update

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India notified the World Trade Organization of the Draft Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Amendment Regulations 2020.
 
The Draft changes the following maximum residue limits (MRLs) for groundnuts:

• The MRL for difenoconazole in groundnut is set at 0.01 ppm.
• The MRL for mancozeb in groundnut is set at 0.01 ppm.
• The MRL for flubendiamide in groundnut is set at 0.02 ppm.
• The MRL for imidacloprid in groundnut seed is set at 0.05 ppm.
• The MRL for indoxacarb in groundnut is set at 0.05* ppm.
• The MRL for novaluron in groundnut is set at 0.01* ppm.
• The MRL for propaquizafop in groundnut seed is set at 0.01* ppm.
• The MRL for tebuconazole in groundnut seed is set at 0.05 ppm.
• The MRL for trifloxystrobin in groundnut is set at 0.02* ppm.
• The MRL for fluxapyroxad in groundnut is set at 0.05* ppm.
• The MRL for methoxyfenozide in groundnut is set at 0.02* ppm.

* indicates that the maximum residue limit is set at the limit of determination.
 
The final date for comments is November 8, 2020.
 
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