Letters about Quarter 2 2006 results will be sent in the week beginning 21 August.
From now on the PRC Secretariat will write to brand owners and suppliers about samples containing residues above MRLs and containing residues indicative of unapproved use of pesticides in the UK before, rather than after, the Pesticide Residues Committee (PRC) meets to discuss the results.
Brand owners and suppliers will be invited to write in with any observations they want to share with the PRC when they discuss the results at their meeting on 18 October.
Brand owners and suppliers will still be offered the opportunity to provide a statement for publication in the report.
Why are you changing the timetable?
Brand owners and retailers have often asked if we can inform them of results earlier. They have explained they need as much time as possible to investigate the causes of any problems and to take remedial action before they place orders for next season's produce.
We hope this change will also improve information coming to the PRC.
Does this mean the PRC will consider results earlier, or that results will be published earlier?
No, at least not yet. The PRC will still meet to discuss Quarter 2 2006 results on 18 October and publication of the report is still scheduled for December.
However we will keep our schedule under review, and if we are able to reschedule to speed up any other part of the process we will.
Are you consulting on this change?
No. There is no change in policy, just a change in our administrative timetable.
Can we comment on this change?
Yes. We are happy to receive feedback, and to have any suggestions on other ways we can improve our procedures.
PRC Secretariat
17 August 2006
