Maximum residue levels for 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene

Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/1314 of 15 June 2026 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

Update

The European Commission has reduced 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, passion fruits/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, parsley roots/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, chives, 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, teas, coffee beans, chamomile, hibiscus, rose, jasmine, lime, strawberry, rooibos, maté, valerian, ginseng, cocoa beans, carobs, hops, 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 has reduced the MRLs for 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene on all products of plant origin, except for potatoes, from 0.05 to 0.03 mg/kg.

The MRLs for potatoes and animal products, set in Regulation 2024/2640 (see Table 1), remain unchanged.

Why?

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 new MRLs apply from 6 January 2027.

Recommended Actions

Exporters of all products of plant origin, except for potatoes, should review their current use of 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene and evaluate possible alternative solutions in anticipation of the MRL changes.

Background

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

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 Regulation (EU) 2024/2640