Maximum residue levels for acetamiprid

Draft Commission Regulation amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for acetamiprid in or on certain products

Update

The European Union has informed the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee that it intends to lower the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for acetamiprid (G/SPS/N/EU/787).

Impacted Products

Apples, pears, quinces, medlars, apricots, cherries, peaches, table grapes, wine grapes, blackberries, raspberries (red, yellow), blueberries, cranberries, gooseberries (green, red, yellow), currants (black, red, white), elderberries, table olives, bananas, tomatoes, sweet peppers/ bell peppers, cucumbers, courgettes, melons, pumpkins, watermelons, broccoli, cauliflowers, head cabbages, lamb’s lettuces/ corn salads, Roman rocket/ rucola, lettuces, escaroles/ broad-leaved endives, red mustards, spinaches, chards/ beet leaves, asparagus, bovine liver, bovine edible offals (other than liver and kidney)

What is changing?

The EU proposes to amend the MRLs for acetamiprid as summarised in Table 1.

Why?

Following a request by the European Commission to review the toxicological properties and MRLs for acetamiprid, EFSA (2024) identified a lower acceptable daily intake (ADI) and a lower acute reference dose (ARfD). For products where the existing MRLs caused the new ARfD to be exceeded, EFSA suggested lower MRLs that pose no health risks for the consumer.

Timeline

Expected date of adoption: February 2025.

The new MRLs will apply from approximately May 2025 – the precise date will be known once the Regulation is published.

Recommended Actions

Suppliers of affected products should review their use of acetamiprid and assess whether any changes will be needed to existing good agricultural practices (GAP).

Authorities in countries that are members of the World Trade Organization can provide feedback on the EU’s proposal (G/SPS/N/EU/787) by emailing the EU SPS Enquiry Point until 10 September 2024.

A new review will be carried out in February 2027. Suppliers should continue to monitor levels of acetamiprid, and the GAP for its use in apples, pears, quinces, apricots, sweet peppers, cucumbers, and courgettes, so that data can be submitted to the Commission before that date.

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

Sources

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Regulation

Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for acetamiprid in or on certain products

What is changing and why?

The EU proposes to amend the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for acetamiprid. A review by the European Food Safety Authority identified a lower acceptable daily intake (ADI) and a lower acute reference dose (ARfD), so for certain products lower MRLs are necessary to avoid health risks to consumers.

The changes to MRLs are set out in Table 1.

Actions

Suppliers of affected products should review their use of acetamiprid and assess whether any changes will be needed to existing good agricultural practices (GAP).

Authorities in countries that are members of the World Trade Organization can provide feedback on the EU’s proposal (G/SPS/N/EU/787) by emailing the EU SPS Enquiry Point until 10 September 2024.

A new review will be carried out in February 2027. Suppliers should continue to monitor levels of acetamiprid, and the GAP for its use in apples, pears, quinces, apricots, sweet peppers, cucumbers, and courgettes, so that data can be submitted to the Commission before that date.

Timeline

The new MRLs will apply from approximately May 2025 – the precise date will be known once the Regulation is published.

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