EU proposals for pesticide residues

Maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides in food are laid down by the international Codex Alimentarius Commission, a UN standard-setting body, and increasingly by the European Commission (EC). A number of Directives and Regulations govern permissible MRLs in foods for member states, and frequently the EC limits are more restrictive.
    The last batch of EC residue proposals was reviewed in Pesticides News No. 16, June 1992. These are now the subject of two Directives—93/57/EEC and 93/58/EEC, and cover the following active ingredients:

For some pesticide/commodity combinations, there is insufficient data to set an MRL. Unless manufacturers undertake to supply data, MAFF may propose to revoke those approvals for UK use.
    Two new proposals made by the Commission have also been circulated by MAFF for comment. These propose MRLs for: benalaxyl, benfurocarb, carbofuran, carbosulfan, cyfluthrin, daminozide, ethephon, fenarimol, furathiocarb, lambda-cyhalothrin, metalaxyl, propiconazole.

Commission of the European Communities Proposal for a Council Directive i) amending the Annexes to Directives 86/362/EEC and 86/363/EEC on the fixing of maximum residue levels for pesticide residues in and on cereals and foodstuffs of animal origin respectively; and ii) amending Annex II to Directive 90/642/EEC relating to the fixing of maximum residue levels for pesticide residues in and on certain products of plant origin, including fruit and vegetables and providing for the establishment of a list of maximum levels. (COM(93) 505 final). Circulated by MAFF Pesticides Safety Directorate by letter 23 December 1993.

[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 23, March 1994, page 21]