Maximum residue levels for calcium phosphide

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 calcium phosphide, cyromazine, topramezone and triflumizole in or on certain products

Update

The European Commission proposes to establish MRLs for calcium phosphide on all products at the limit of determination (LOD) from October 2023.

What is changing?

The Commission is proposing to establish a default MRL of 0.01 mg/kg for calcium phosphide for all products. Specific limits were not previously set for calcium phosphide, as it fell within the definition of phosphane and phosphide salts.

Why?

The approval of the use of calcium phosphide in the EU expired on 1 December 2020 and applications for its renewal were withdrawn.

Timeline

The new Regulation is expected to be adopted in March 2023. The new MRLs will apply from approximately October 2023 – the precise date will be known once the Regulation is published.

What are the major implications for exporting countries?

In the view of EFSA (2015), calcium phosphide is “used [as a rodenticide] for fumigating underground tunnels and burrows in cropland and non-cropland situations. Although residues may be adsorbed onto soil, a significant uptake of residues by plants is not expected”. The implications for AGRINFO stakeholders are expected to be limited.

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.

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