Australia: MRLS Update
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) issued the Amendment No. 202 (August 26, 2021) that modifies the Schedule 18 –Processing aids– and the Schedule 20 –Maximum residue limits– in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
The Amendment can be found here.
The Amendment can be found here.
China: MRLs Update
On August 24, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service issued a GAIN Report containing an unofficial translation of China’s maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides in foods.
The standard entitled “National Food Safety Standard – Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Foods” (GB 2763- 2021) consolidates the previous version of the standard (GB2763-2019) and the updates that have been made since it was last issued in 2019. The updated standard contains an additional 81 pesticides and 2,985 new MRLs.
The implementation date of the Standard was September 3, 2021.
The standard entitled “National Food Safety Standard – Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Foods” (GB 2763- 2021) consolidates the previous version of the standard (GB2763-2019) and the updates that have been made since it was last issued in 2019. The updated standard contains an additional 81 pesticides and 2,985 new MRLs.
The implementation date of the Standard was September 3, 2021.
EFSA: Fosetyl MRLs Review
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published the Reasoned Opinion on the joint review of maximum residue levels (MRLs) for fosetyl, disodium phosphonate and potassium phosphonates according to Articles 12 and 43 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.
EFSA has reviewed the MRLs currently established at European level for the pesticide active substances potassium and disodium phosphonates. As fosetyl, potassium phosphonates and disodium phosphonates degrade to phosphonic acid, EFSA considered appropriate to jointly review the residues of these three active substances. Based on the assessment of the available data, MRL proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out. The consumer risk assessment is considered indicative only, and some MRL proposals derived by EFSA still require further consideration by risk managers. The following MRL recommendations were derived:
EFSA has reviewed the MRLs currently established at European level for the pesticide active substances potassium and disodium phosphonates. As fosetyl, potassium phosphonates and disodium phosphonates degrade to phosphonic acid, EFSA considered appropriate to jointly review the residues of these three active substances. Based on the assessment of the available data, MRL proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out. The consumer risk assessment is considered indicative only, and some MRL proposals derived by EFSA still require further consideration by risk managers. The following MRL recommendations were derived:
| Code | Commodity | Existing EU MRL (ppm) | Existing Codex MRL (ppm) | Proposed MRL (ppm) | Comments |
| 120010 | Almonds | 500 | 400 | 1,000 | Recommended |
| 120020 | Brazil nuts | 500 | 400 | 400 | Recommended |
| 120030 | Cashew nuts | 500 | 400 | 400 | Recommended |
| 120060 | Hazelnuts | 500 | 400 | 1,000 | Recommended |
| 120070 | Macadamia | 500 | 400 | 400 | Recommended |
| 120080 | Pecans | 500 | 400 | 400 | Recommended |
| 120090 | Pine nuts | 500 | 400 | 400 | Recommended |
| 120100 | Pistachios | 500 | 400 | 1,000 | Recommended |
| 120110 | Walnuts | 500 | 400 | 1,000 | Recommended |
| 140010 | Apricots | 2.0* | – | 60 | Recommended |
| 140040 | Plums | 2.0* | – | 1 | Further consideration needed |
| 151010 | Table grapes | 100 | 60 | 100 | Recommended |
| 154020 | Cranberries | 2.0* | – | 0.1* | Further consideration needed |
| 161010 | Dates | 2.0* | – | 0.15 | Further consideration needed |
| 161020 | Figs | 2.0* | – | 0.3 | Further consideration needed |
| 401020 | Peanuts/groundnuts | 2.0* | – | 3 | Further consideration needed |
Enforcement residue definition (existing): fosetyl-Al (sum of fosetyl, phosphonic acid and their salts, expressed as fosetyl).
Enforcement residue definition 1 (proposed): phosphonic acid and its salts expressed as phosphonic acid.
* Indicates that the MRL is set at the limit of quantification.
Reasoned opinion on the joint review of maximum residue levels (MRLs) for fosetyl, disodium phosphonate and potassium phosphonates according to Articles 12 and 43 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. EFSA Journal 2021;19(8):6782.
EFSA: Flutolanil, Import Tolerance
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published a reasoned opinion on import tolerance for flutolanil in peanuts.
The data submitted in support of the request to set an import tolerance for the active substance flutolanil in peanuts were found to be sufficient to derive maximum residue level (MRL) proposal for peanuts. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short-term and long-term intake of residues resulting from the use of flutolanil according to the reported agricultural practice is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health. Therefore, EFSA proposes to amend the existing MRL as follows:
The data submitted in support of the request to set an import tolerance for the active substance flutolanil in peanuts were found to be sufficient to derive maximum residue level (MRL) proposal for peanuts. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short-term and long-term intake of residues resulting from the use of flutolanil according to the reported agricultural practice is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health. Therefore, EFSA proposes to amend the existing MRL as follows:
| Code | Commodity | Existing MRL (ppm) | Proposed MRL (ppm) | Comments |
| 401020 | Peanuts/ groundnuts |
0.01* | 0.02 | The submitted data are sufficient to derive an import tolerance (US GAP). Risk for consumers unlikely. |
US: United States; GAP: Good Agricultural Practice
*Indicates that the MRL is set at the limit of analytical quantification (LOQ).
Setting of an import tolerance for flutolanil in peanuts. EFSA Journal 2021;19(8):6717
*Indicates that the MRL is set at the limit of analytical quantification (LOQ).
Setting of an import tolerance for flutolanil in peanuts. EFSA Journal 2021;19(8):6717
EU: Pesticide Withdrawals
The European Commission published the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1379 of 19 August 2021 concerning the non-renewal of approval of the active substance famoxadone, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market, and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011.
The Regulation establishes that the approval of the active substance famoxadone is not renewed and, therefore, existing authorized plant protection products containing this substance will be withdrawn from the market. This decision does not affect the Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for residues of these pesticides. However, following the non-approval, separate actions may be taken on the MRLs.
It entered into force on August 21, 2021.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1379 of 19 August 2021
The Regulation establishes that the approval of the active substance famoxadone is not renewed and, therefore, existing authorized plant protection products containing this substance will be withdrawn from the market. This decision does not affect the Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for residues of these pesticides. However, following the non-approval, separate actions may be taken on the MRLs.
It entered into force on August 21, 2021.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1379 of 19 August 2021
Japan: MRLs Update
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan notified the World Trade Organization of the Revision of the Standards and Specifications for Foods and Food Additives under the Food Sanitation Act (revision of agricultural chemical residue standards).
The MRL for captan in walnuts is increased from 0.01 ppm to 0.5 ppm. The WTO notification can be found here.
The MRL for pyriofenone in cranberries is increased from 0.01 ppm to 0.5 ppm. The WTO notification can be found here.
The MRL for cypermethrinin in peanuts is increased from 0.05 ppm to 0.1 ppm, in cranberries from 0.5 ppm to 0.8 ppm, in almonds and walnuts from 0.03 ppm to 0.05 ppm. However, the MRL is decreased in dates from 0.03 ppm to 0.01 ppm and in other nuts from 0.2 ppm to 0.1 ppm. The WTO notification can be found here.
The final date for comments is November 1, 2021.
The MRL for captan in walnuts is increased from 0.01 ppm to 0.5 ppm. The WTO notification can be found here.
The MRL for pyriofenone in cranberries is increased from 0.01 ppm to 0.5 ppm. The WTO notification can be found here.
The MRL for cypermethrinin in peanuts is increased from 0.05 ppm to 0.1 ppm, in cranberries from 0.5 ppm to 0.8 ppm, in almonds and walnuts from 0.03 ppm to 0.05 ppm. However, the MRL is decreased in dates from 0.03 ppm to 0.01 ppm and in other nuts from 0.2 ppm to 0.1 ppm. The WTO notification can be found here.
The final date for comments is November 1, 2021.