Maximum residue levels for epoxiconazole

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/128 of 18 January 2023 amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for benalaxyl, bromoxynil, chlorsulfuron, epoxiconazole and fenamiphos in or on certain products

Update

The EU has reduced the MRLs for epoxiconazole. This will lead to reductions in MRLs to the limit of determination (LOD) for cabbages, peas, all cereals, all spices, sugar plants and products of animal origin.

Impacted Products

bananas, head cabbages, peas (with pods), peas (pulses), barley, oats, buckwheat, maize, corn, common millet, proso millet, rice, sorghum, rye, wheat, seed spices, fruit spices, bark spices, roots and rhizomes spices, bud spices, flower pistil spices, aril spices, sugar beet roots, chicory roots, products of animal origin

What is changing?

The changes to MRLs are set out in Table 1.

In addition, the LOD is reduced on the majority of other products from 0.05 to 0.01 mg/kg.

Why?

The active substance epoxiconazole was not renewed for use in the EU, as an application for renewal was not submitted. Its EU approval expired on 30 April 2020. In the absence of Codex MRLs or import tolerances, the MRLs for all products were reduced to the LOD.

Timeline

The new MRLs will apply from 8 August 2023.

Recommended Actions

Exporters of bananas, cabbages, peas, all cereals, all spices, sugar plants, and products of animal origin should review the current use of epoxiconazole in production of these products, and seek alternative solutions with a view to ensuring a transition away from epoxiconazole before August 2023.

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.

Sources

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