EU Developments relevant to Consumer Safety and Pesticide Residues
There have been various recent developments in relation to the EC Pesticide Authorisations Directive 91/414/EEC, the EC legislation on Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) and a new Commission initiative on the "Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products". Click on the subject you want to view.
EC Pesticide Authorisations Directive (91/414/EEC)
EC regulations on pesticide residues in baby food
The sustainable use of plant protection products
EC Pesticide Authorisations Directive (91/414/EEC)
This Directive aims to secure greater harmonisation in the pesticide products which are approved in the different Member States. The major initiative under the Directive is a long-term review of all the "active substances" used in pesticides in one or more of the Member States to ensure that they meet modern safety standards. Some 865 compounds are being considered under the review programme of which about 350 were approved in the UK. However, because of the high costs involved in conducting all the necessary trials required by the review, companies are not supporting all the compounds. The majority of products based on the compounds, which are not being supported (about 330 compounds for the EU as a whole and 45 for the UK) were withdrawn from sale in July 2003.
New compounds are also being approved under Directive 91/414/EEC and we aim to include relevant new substances within the analytical programme as soon as possible.
Maximum Residue Levels
Statutory Arrangements Governing MRLs
Until September 2008, the legislation for pesticide residues was a shared responsibility of the 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.
The Annexes to Regulation 396/2005 specify the MRLs and the food commodities to which they apply. All substances acting as pesticides are subject to these Regulations, whether or not they have authorised uses within the EC.
More information on statutory arrangements concerning MRLs
EC regulations on pesticide residues in baby food
A general maximum residue level of 0.01mg/kg for pesticide residues in baby foods and infant formula came into operation on 1 July 2002. In addition supplementary EC legislation was adopted in 2003 which will bring in lower MRLs in baby food for a small number of more toxic pesticides. These are the standards that we monitor against.
The sustainable use of plant protection products
The EU's Sixth Environmental Action Programme committed the community to developing a Thematic Strategy for Pesticides. The Strategy seeks to ensure more sustainable use of pesticides through use of existing and new legislation
More information on the EU Thematic Strategy from the CRD website