Maximum residue levels for benfluralin

Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/147 of 22 January 2026 amending Annexes II and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for benfluralin, benthiavalicarb and penflufen in or on certain products

Update

The European Union (EU) has lowered the maximum residue level (MRL) of benfluralin for salsifies to the limit of determination (LOD): from 0.05 to 0.01 mg/kg. (The LOD is the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods.) For all other foods, the MRL was already set at the LOD, but these LODs are also lowered to reflect the development of more sensitive analytical methods.

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, apricots, cherries (sweet), peaches, plums, table grapes, wine grapes, strawberries, blackberries, dewberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, currants (black, red, white), gooseberries, rose hips, mulberries (black and white), azaroles, elderberries, dates, figs, table olives, kumquats, carambolas, kaki/Japanese persimmons, jambolans, kiwi fruits, lychees, passionfruits, prickly pears, star apples, American persimmons, avocados, bananas, mangoes, papayas, pomegranates, cherimoyas, guavas, pineapples, breadfruits, durians, soursops, potatoes, cassava roots/manioc, sweet potatoes, yams, arrowroots, beetroots, carrots, celeriac, horseradishes, Jerusalem artichokes, parsnips, parsley roots, radishes, swedes/rutabagas, turnips, salsifies, garlic, onions, shallots, spring/green/Welsh onions, tomatoes, sweet/bell peppers, aubergines/eggplants, okra/lady’s fingers, cucumbers, gherkins, courgettes, melons, pumpkins, watermelons, sweetcorn, broccoli, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts, head cabbages, Chinese cabbages/pe-tsai, kales, kohlrabis, lamb's lettuces/corn salads, lettuces, escaroles/broad-leaved endives, cresses and shoots, land cresses, rucola, red mustards, baby leaf crops, spinaches, purslanes, chards/beet leaves, grape leaves, watercresses, witloofs/Belgian endives, chervil, chives, celery leaves, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, basil and edible flowers, laurel/bay leaves, tarragon, beans (with pods), beans (without pods), peas (with pods), peas (without pods), lentils, asparagus, cardoons, celeries, Florence fennels, globe artichokes, leeks, rhubarbs, bamboo shoots, palm hearts, cultivated fungi, wild fungi, mosses and lichens, algae and prokaryotes, beans, lentils, peas, lupins/lupini beans, linseeds, peanuts/groundnuts, seeds of poppy, sesame, sunflower, rape/canola, mustard, cotton, pumpkin, safflower, borage, gold of pleasure, hemp; soyabeans, castor beans, olives for oil production, oil palm kernels and fruits, kapok, barley, buckwheat and other pseudocereals, maize/corn, common millet/proso millet, oat, rice, rye, sorghum, wheat, teas, coffee beans, chamomile, hibiscus/roselle, rose, jasmine, lime/linden, strawberry, rooibos, mate/maté, valerian, ginseng, cocoa beans, carobs, hops, aniseed, black cumin, celery, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, fenugreek, nutmeg, allspice/pimento, Sichuan pepper, caraway, cardamom, juniper berry, peppercorn, vanilla, tamarind, cinnamon, liquorice, ginger, turmeric, horseradish, cloves, capers, saffron, mace, sugar beet roots, sugar canes, chicory roots, commodities from swine, cattle, sheep, goat, horse, poultry, other farmed terrestrial animals, milk (cattle, sheep, goat, horse), birds' eggs, amphibians and reptiles, terrestrial invertebrates, wild terrestrial vertebrates

What is changing?

The EU has made the changes to MRLs for benfluralin as summarised in Table 1.

Why?

As benfluralin is no longer approved for use in the EU, the EU has set all MRLs at the product-specific LODs. The LODs are updated by the European Commission to reflect the latest analytical methods on the advice of the EU Reference Laboratories for Residues of Pesticides.

Timeline

The new MRLs apply from 12 August 2026. For products imported before that date, the previous MRL applies.

What are the major implications for exporting countries?

Exporters of salsifies should review their current use of benfluralin and evaluate possible alternative solutions.

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

Tables & Figures

Source: based on PLAN-2024-1306 rev3