Food News

Fruit & vegetable business: Current changes in maximum residue levels (MRL) (09/2017)

Fruits

Several regulation changes have been reported and were set in force during the past weeks that we like to point your attention to. For details please refer to the original sources via the links offered below.

 

For Acrinathrin, Metalaxyl and Thiabendazole new, mainly lowered MRLs were published by EU Regulation 2017/1164. In citrus fruit, strawberries the MRL for Acrinathrin has been significantly lowered by factor 10 from 0,2 to 0.02 mg/kg in pome fruits from 0,1 to 0.02 mg/kg.


For Metalaxyl for some pome fruits the MRL was lowered significantly as for quinces, meldars, loquats from 1,0 mg/kg to LOQ level of 0.01 mg/kg. For apples and pears the MRL remained at 1.0 mg/kg.

 

The MRL for Thiabendazole in citrus fruits has been elevated from 5 to 7 mg/kg as well as for some pome fruit like as for quinces, meldars, loquats from 0.05 to 3 mg(kg. A strongly lowered MRL has been set for mango from 5 mg/kg to 0.01 mg/kg, potatoes from 15 mg/kg to 0.04 mg/kg and chicory from 1.0 mg/kg to 0.05 mg/kg. We recommend looking up the complete list of changes under the link given below. The regulation will be in force by January 21st, 2018.

 

Renewed approvals:
The approval of the herbicide substance Pendimethalin, although listed as substitution candidate due to its persistence, has been renewed until July 31st, 2018. Also the active substance Propoxycarbazon was approved again until August 2032. The approval of benzoic acid used as disinfectant, preservative has been renewed as well the application as bactericide and fungicide has been accepted.

 

The approval for 2,4-DB in use as herbicide has been renewed until 31.10.2032

 

Rejected approvals:

Linuronapproved in 24 EU countries as an herbicide, but not in Germany and three other member states is suspected to be cancerogenic and toxic for reproduction and causes adverse effects on endocrine organs in humans and non-target organisms. Therefore a prolongation of the approval has been refused by COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGUL ATION (EU) 2017/244 recently. It can be expected that the MRL values will be set on LOQ level (0.05 mg/kg) for all crops in short term.

 

Picoxystrobinthe renewal for its approval was rejected due risks for mammals, aquatic organisms and earth worms and a missing toxicological evaluation of its metabolites. COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGUL ATION (EU) 2017/1455 by Aug., 10th. The loQ was already lowered before to 0.01 respectively 0.02 mg/kg. Remaining products can be used up until 30.11.2018.

 

Flupyrosulfuron-methyl (DPX-KE 459) is an herbicide which was approved in 18 member states inclusive Germany. The prolongation of the approval has been rejected by COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGUL ATION (EU) 2017/1496 by Aug. 23rd. Based on the studies assessed, the authority concluded that the parent substance has certain intrinsic toxicological properties, in particular as regards to carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity, which led to the decision of non-renewal of the approval from 13.Decemerb 2017. Remaining products containing this compound might be used up within one year.

 

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