Pesticide residues

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Pesticide residues

Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (Host Government - The Netherlands)

The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) provides recommendations to the Codex Alimentarius Commission about maximum limits for pesticide residues for specific food items or groups of food.

A Codex Maximum Limit for Pesticide Residues (MRL) is the maximum concentration of pesticide residue (expressed as mg/kg), recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be legally permitted in or on food commodities and animal feeds. Foods derived from commodities that comply with MRLs are intended to be toxicologically acceptable and safe for human consumption.

Codex MRLs apply in international trade and are derived from evaluations conducted by the Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR).

Existing Codex Standards

A number of standards relating to pesticide residues* have been endorsed and adopted into the international food code. They include standards on:

  • Analysis of Pesticide Residues: Guidelines on Good Laboratory Practice in Pesticide Residue Analysis
  • Analysis of Pesticide Residues: Portion of Commodities to which Codex MRLS apply and which is analysed
  • Analysis of Pesticide Residues: Recommended Methods
  • Extraneous Maximum Residue Limits (EMRLs)
  • Methods of Sampling for Pesticide Residues for the Determination of Compliance with MRLs

Outcomes of the 31st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission

The 31st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission adopted, at Step 8, the Draft and Revised Draft MRLs (Alinorm 08/31/24 paras 35 – 104 and Appendix II).

The Proposed Draft and Revised Draft MRLs (Alinorm 08/31/24 paras 35 – 104 and Appendix III) were adopted at Step 5/8. 

The Commission also approved new work on the Priority List of Pesticides (New Pesticides and Pesticides under Periodic Review), the Estimation of Measurement Uncertainty and the Revision of the CCPR Risk Analysis Principles.

* This is an indicative list only. For a full list of standards approved by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, please consult its Official List of Standards

Last Meeting

The 40th Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues was held in Hangzhou, China, from 14 – 19 April 2008.

At this meeting the Committee agreed to recommend to the 31st Session of the Commission the:

  • Adoption of the draft and draft revised MRLs at Step 8 and proposed draft MRLs at Step 5/8
  • Revocation of certain existing Codex MRLs, and
  • Adoption of the proposed draft MRLs for certain commodities at Step 5.
New Work
  • Priority List for the establishment of MRLs for certain pesticides
  • The Estimation of Measurement Uncertainty and Appendix IX (Project Document), and
  • Revision of the CCPR Risk Analysis Principles.
Discontinuation of Work

  • The establishment of MRLs for several pesticide/commodity combinations.

The Committee also:

  • agreed to prepare a paper describing in more detail the proposed pilot process taking into account the issues relating to “Achieving Globally Harmonized MRLs Through Codex” for consideration by the next session of the Committee. 
Matters of Interest to the Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR)

The Committee:

  • noted that the JMPR Secretariat agreed to consider the JMPR MRL estimation process through the publication of the MRL Calculator summary table in the JMPR report together with a short explanation of how the MRL was determined at the 2008 JMPR meeting
  • decided to return the MRLs for CARBARYL (008) for cherries; citrus fruits; citrus juice; citrus pulp, dry; dried grapes (=currants, raisins and sultanas); grape juice; grape pomace, dry; grapes and stone fruits to Step 6 due to acute intake concerns pending the 2008 JMPR consideration of alternative GAPs for cherries
  • decided to return the draft MRLs for DIMETHOATE (027) for lettuce, head and peppers (sweet) to Step 6, awaiting the 2008 JMPR evaluation of alternative GAP
  • decided to retain the existing CXL for ENDOSULFAN (032) for tea, green, black for 4 years under the periodic review procedure at the request of China who agreed to submit data for the 2010 JMPR evaluation
  • noted that malathion was scheduled for JMPR evaluation for MALATHION (049) for wheat in 2008 and decided to withdraw all the draft MRLs at Step 7, as no animal transfer data were available
  • noted that this compound CARBENDAZIM (072) was being evaluated for toxicology by the EC in 2008 and that the outcome would be provided to JMPR
  • decided to retain all the draft MRLs for CHLORPYRIFOS-METHYL (90) at Step 7 awaiting the 2009 JMPR evaluation
  • decided to return the draft MRLs for METHOMYL (094) to Step 6 for brassica vegetables; celery; fruiting vegetable; cucurbits; grapes and leafy vegetables pending alternative GAP analysis by the JMPR in 2008
  • decided to return the draft MRLs for CARBOFURAN (096) for cantaloupe; cucumber; mandarin; oranges, sweet, sour; potato; squash, summer; sweet corn, corn on the cob to Step 6 due to acute intake concern, awaiting JMPR 2008 toxicology. Belgium will provide Carbosulfan metabolism data on citrus fruit in order to refine the acute dietary risk assessment
  • agreed to retain the proposed MRL for PHORATE (112) for potato at Step 7 awaiting advice on the availability of data on processing for review by JMPR in 2009
  • decided to return the proposed MRLs for OXAMYL (126) for citrus fruits; cucumber; melons, except watermelons and peppers to Step 6 pending the 2008 JMPR consideration of alternative GAPs and to retain the CXL for tomato for four years under the Periodic Review  Procedure noting that new data will be reviewed for alternative GAP by 2008 JMPR
  • agreed to retain all existing CXLs for METALAXYL (138) for residue evaluation by JMPR in 2013 noting that some uses were being supported in Thailand and the USA and to retain all the draft MRLs for METALAXYL-M (212) at Step 7, awaiting the periodic review of metalaxyl by JMPR in 2012 (toxicology) and 2013 (residues)
  • decided to retain the MRL for PROCHLORAZ (142) for mushrooms at Step 7, noting that additional data would be available to support an alternative GAP for evaluation by 2009 JMPR
  • decided to retain the CXL for TRIAZOPHOS (143) for cereal grains for four years under the Periodic Review Procedure noting that data will be submitted by China for further evaluation by JMPR
  • decided to retain the proposed MRL for grapes at Step 7 for FENPYROXIMATE (193), pending a review of alternative GAP by JMPR in 2010
  • decided to retain all the draft and proposed draft MRLs for HALOXYFOP (194) at Steps 4 and 7, pending the outcome of the 2009 JMPR evaluation
  • noted that additional data could be available to establish the MRL for DIFENOCONAZOLE (224) for banana for review by JMPR
  • agreed that in future matters in relation to ADI and ARfD arising from JMPR evaluation would be considered under item related to JMPR considerations
  • agreed to forward Addendum II to CX/PR 08/40/04 to the JMPR for advice, and to consider the reply of the JMPR at its next session, and
  • agreed that for regulatory purposes whole milk should be tested and any residue results be compared with the MRLs for whole milk and ask JMPR to insert a footnote to this effect.

The Delegation of Japan asked the JMPR to evaluate the potential risk of clopyralid in follow-up or rotational crops because of its persistence soil and confirmed that Japan will submit the relevant data for this evaluation and ask other countries to submit data if available which was also encouraged by the FAO;

The Representative of FAO pointed out that the pilot project on the establishment of Codex MRLs prior to national governments would have significant implications for the work of the FAO Panel of JMPR and the extent of these implications were not clear at this stage and would need to be carefully considered by the experts at the JMPR 2008.

Matters of Interest to Other Codex Committees

Codex Committe on General Principles

The Committee agreed to request the approval of the Commission for new work on the revision of the Risk Analysis Principles applied by the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues, which would incorporate the Criteria for the Prioritization Process of Compounds for Evaluation by JMPR and the MRL Periodic Review Procedure.

Codex Committe on Methods of Analysis and Sampling

The Committee noted that the working group had supported the development of guidance on the estimation of measurement uncertainty on the basis of the empirical approach (“top down”) and had discussed the relationship between the work on pesticide residue analysis and the work of the Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling. The Committee also agreed to consult with the CCMAS in the preparation of the document as the documents on measurement uncertainty prepared by these Committees should be complementary and reflect a consistent approach.

Download the report from this meeting

Next Meeting

The 41st Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues will be held in Beijing, China, from 20 – 25 April 2009.

Download the agenda for this meeting

Related Links

Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority 
National Residues Survey 
Australian and International Maximum Residue Limits 
MRL's for Australian Macadamia Nuts 
MRL's for Australian Onions 
MRL's for Agrochemicals Registered for use in Australian Pome Fruit (Apple and Pears) 



Last Updated: 30 Jul 2008
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