Maximum residue levels for 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene

Draft Commission Regulation 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 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, chlormequat, metribuzin, metribuzin-desamino-diketo (metribuzin-DADK), terbuthylazine and triclopyr in or on certain products.

Draft Annex

Update

The European Commission has informed the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee (G/SPS/N/EU/899) that it intends to reduce the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene from 0.05 to 0.03 mg/kg on all products of plant origin, except for potatoes.

Impacted Products

Grapefruits, oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, chestnuts, coconuts, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nut kernels, pistachios, walnuts, apples, pears, quinces, medlars, loquats/Japanese medlars, apricots, cherries (sweet), peaches, plums, table grapes, wine grapes, strawberries, blackberries, dewberries, raspberries (red and yellow), blueberries, cranberries, currants (black, red, white), gooseberries (green, red, yellow), rose hips, mulberries (black and white), azaroles/Mediterranean medlars, elderberries, dates, figs, kaki/Japanese persimmons, jambolans, kiwi fruits, litchis, passionfruits/maracujas, prickly pears, star apples/cainitos, American persimmons/Virginia kaki, avocados, bananas, mangoes, papayas, granate apples/pomegranates, cherimoyas, guavas, pineapples, breadfruits, soursops, table olives, kumquats, carambolas, durians, cassava roots, yams, arrowroots, sweet potatoes, beetroots, carrots, celeriac, horseradishes, Jerusalem artichokes, parsnips, Hamburg root parsley, radishes, salsifies, swedes/rutabagas, turnips, garlic, onions, shallots, spring onions/green onions, Welsh onions, tomatoes, sweet peppers/bell peppers, aubergines/eggplants, okra/lady’s fingers, gherkins, courgettes, cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, watermelons, sweetcorn, broccoli, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts, head cabbages, Chinese cabbages/pe-tsai, kales, kohlrabies, lettuces, escaroles/broad-leaved endives, spinaches, purslanes, chards/beet leaves, witloofs/Belgian endives, lamb’s lettuces/corn salads, Roman rocket/rucola, red mustards, cresses and other sprouts and shoots, land cresses, watercresses, baby leaf crops (including Brassica species), chervil, celery leaves, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, basil and edible flowers, laurel/bay leaves, tarragon, grape leaves, beans and peas (with and without pods), lentils, asparagus, cardoons, celeries, Florence fennels, leeks, rhubarbs, bamboo shoots, palm hearts, globe artichokes, cultivated/wild fungi, mosses and lichens, algae and prokaryotes, beans, lentils, lupini beans, linseeds, peanuts/groundnuts, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, rapeseeds/canola seeds, mustard seeds, cotton seeds, safflower seeds, soyabeans, pumpkin seeds, castor beans, borage seeds, gold of pleasure seeds, hemp seeds, olives for oil production, oil palm kernels and fruits, kapok, barley, oat, buckwheat, maize/corn, millet, rice, rye, sorghum, wheat, chamomile, hibiscus, rose, jasmine, lime, strawberry, rooibos, maté, valerian, ginseng, aniseed, black cumin, celery, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, fenugreek, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, capers, saffron, mace, allspice/pimento, Sichuan pepper, caraway, juniper berry, peppercorn (black, green, white), vanilla, tamarind, cardamom, liquorice, turmeric, sugar beet roots, sugar canes, chicory roots

What is changing?

The EU proposes to reduce MRLs for 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene on all products of plant origin, except for potatoes, from 0.05 to 0.03 mg/kg (Table 1).

MRLs for potatoes and animal products set in Regulation 2024/2640 (see Table 2) remain unchanged.

Why?

Recent monitoring data show that residues of 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene in products of plant origin can occur naturally at levels higher than the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods).

The MRL for 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene on potatoes is maintained at 20 mg/kg because the European Food Safety Authority has concluded that there is no consumer health risk for potato (EFSA 2023).

Timeline

The Regulation reducing the MRLs on plant products except potatoes is expected to be published in July 2026. It is expected that new MRLs will apply from late 2026 or early 2027.

Recommended Actions

Competent authorities of countries that are members of the WTO can submit comments on the EU’s proposal by emailing the EU SPS Enquiry Point until 1 February 2026.

Background

The setting of MRLs for potatoes and animal products (Regulation 2024/2640) followed assessment (EFSA 2023) of the impacts of livestock feed produced from potatoes in relation to 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene. It proposed lowering some existing MRLs in products from swine, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and other farmed terrestrial animals, and in milk, but raising MRLs in poultry and egg products.

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

Sources

Tables & Figures

Source: based on PLAN-2025-1086_rev3 Draft Annex.

Source: based on Regulation (EU) 2024/2640.