Maximum residue levels for azoxystrobin
Published by AGRINFO on ; Revised
EU raises MRL for azoxystrobin on hops
Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/1078 of 15 April 2024 amending Annexes II and IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for azoxystrobin, flonicamid, isofetamid, mefentrifluconazole, metazachlor, pyrimethanil and quartz sand in or on certain products
Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1363 of 3 August 2022 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for 2,4-D, azoxystrobin, cyhalofop-butyl, cymoxanil, fenhexamid, flazasulfuron, florasulam, fluroxypyr, iprovalicarb and silthiofam in or on certain products
Update
The EU has raised the maximum residue level (MRL) for azoxystrobin on hops.
Impacted Products
hops, lamb’s lettuces, corn salads, lettuces, escaroles, broadleaved endives, cresses, sprouts and shoots, land cresses, Roman rocket, rucola, red mustards, baby leaf crops
What is changing?
The MRL for azoxystrobin on hops has been raised from 30 to 40 mg/kg (Regulation 2024/1078).
In 2022, the MRLs for azoxystrobin on leaf vegetables (lamb’s lettuces/corn salads, lettuces, escaroles/broadleaved endives, cresses and other sprouts and shoots, land cresses, Roman rocket/rucola, red mustards, baby leaf crops) were reduced from 15 to 10 mg/kg (Regulation 2022/1363).
Why?
Following a request for modification of the MRL for azoxystrobin in hops, EFSA (2023) concluded that the proposed MRL is acceptable for consumer safety.
Concerning the lowered MRLs on leaf vegetables, data was submitted by the applicant Syngenta to address identified data gaps for azoxystrobin for certain products. Following a review, EFSA (2020) concluded that the data gaps had been sufficiently addressed, and proposed lowering the MRLs on the basis of this new information.
Timeline
The new MRL on hops applies from 6 May 2024.
Recommended Actions
Suppliers of hops should maintain existing good agricultural practices (GAP) to ensure compliance with the new MRLs by May 2024.
Suppliers of lettuces and salad plants to the EU market should ensure that good agricultural practices related to azoxystrobin are amended to ensure compliance with the new, reduced MRLs.
Background
MRLs are set in accordance with the rules set out in Regulation 396/2005. For information on current MRLs for other substances, please consult the EU Pesticide Residues database.
Resources
EFSA (2020) Evaluation of confirmatory data following the Article 12 MRL review and modification of the existing maximum residue levels for azoxystrobin. EFSA Journal, 18(8): 6231.
EFSA (2023) Modification of the existing maximum residue level for azoxystrobin in hops. EFSA Journal, 21(8): 8124.
Sources