Commission lowers maximum residue levels for 11 pesticides

Following safety concerns of eleven pesticide active substances because of safety concerns, the European Commission has adopted a regulation to lower the maximum residue levels (MRLs).

The move comes after recent research from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) highlighted a variety of safety concerns over the pesticide ingredients. New information on toxicology, consumer exposure and residue levels led EFSA to call for the reduction of MRLs, this would provide protection to the most vulnerable groups, such as children.

At the request of the Commission, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessed the safety of these MRLs taking into account the latest available information. For several of them, EFSA concluded that there is a risk that acceptable intake levels may be exceeded for one or more consumer groups, such as children. Based these findings then, the Commission decided to lower the MRLs for all pesticide crop combinations for which a potential risk was established.

The adopted MRL regulation will enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. More information can be found here

Last updated on 10 June 2011