Maximum Residue Levels (MRL)
This page explains what is meant by the term 'Maximum Residue Level' (MRL) and the significance and implications of MRLs in UK pesticide regulation and the residues surveillance programme. Click on the question you want to view.
How are residue levels in food controlled in the UK?
What is a Maximum Residue Level (MRL)?
Is there a health risk if residues in food are greater than the MRL?
Where can I obtain more information on UK MRLs for Specific Commodities?
How are residue levels in food controlled in the UK?
Until September 2008, the legislation for pesticide residues was a shared responsibility of the European Commission and the Member States. Since 1976, more than 45,000 Community MRLs have been set for various commodities for 245 pesticides on fruit and vegetables, cereals, and foodstuff of animal origin. For the tens of thousands of pesticide/commodity combinations for which no Community MRLs existed, Member States could set MRLs at national level to facilitate trade and to protect the health of their consumers. Member States could also overwrite some EC MRLs with higher National MRLs to accommodate new uses in the Member State concerned.
Since September 2008 all statutory MRLs have been set on an EC-wide basis, under EC Regulation 396/2005(EC). This Regulation provides a harmonised system of MRLs setting, and applies to all foods treated with pesticides after 1 September 2008. More information on statutory arrangements concerning MRLs.
What is a Maximum Residue Level?
MRLs are defined as the maximum concentration of pesticide residue (expressed as milligrams of residue per kilogram of food/animal feeding stuff) likely to occur in or on food and feeding stuffs after the use of pesticides according to Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), i.e. when the pesticide has been applied in line with the product label recommendations and in keeping with local environmental and other conditions). MRLs are primarily trading standards, but they also help ensure that residue levels do not pose unacceptable risks for consumers.
More informatiion on the different types of MRLs from CRD website.
How are MRLs calculated?
Where there is an approved use of the compound on a particular crop, or pesticide residues on imported produce ('import tolerances'), the MRL is generally set at a value determined from field trials (i.e. where the crop has been treated with the pesticide and samples of the crop have been analysed to determine residue levels). MRLs can typically be less than a milligram (mg) of pesticide residue in a kilogram of food (1mg/kg or less than one in a million) up to 5 mg/kg. As an illustration, 0.01 mg/kg is equivalent to 1 second in 3.2 years.
However, where there is no approved use nor an 'import tolerance', a residue level is set at the Limit of Determination (LOD). This is an effective ‘zero’ level of residues reflecting the lowest level at which reliable quantitative analysis can be performed. An LOD MRL can also be set where an approved use is not expected to result in residues where this has been demonstrated from the field trial data. The LOD MRLs are usually between 0.01 and 0.05 mg/kg.
More information on the LOD from the CRD Website.
What is the purpose of MRLs
MRLs are intended primarily as a check that the pesticide is being used correctly (i.e. that the GAP is being observed) and to assist international trade in treated produce.
Is there a health risk if residues in food are greater than the MRL?
The MRL is not a health-based exposure limit, and exposure to residues in excess of an MRL does not necessarily imply a risk to health. This is because a use of a pesticide would not be allowed if the proposed MRL resulted in long-term and short-term exposure of pesticide residues in the human diet above safety limits (the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)) and Acute Reference Dose (ARfD)) which are calculated before any pesticide approval is given. The MRL is not linked to the ADI or ARfD, and could result in dietary intakes considerably below these safety levels.
More information on the ADI and the consumer risk assessment (carried out before a pesticide is approved).
More information on how the PRC carry out a risk assessment (if an MRL is found to be exceeded during the monitoring programme).
Where can I obtain information on MRLs for specific commodities
Our Maximum Residue Level (MRL) databases provide comprehensive information on statutory and non-statutory MRLs applying to pesticides in food following the introduction of EC Regulation 396/2005. Information on EC MRLs is also available on the EC Commission website.