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2023/2382

Maximum residue levels for carbetamide

  • Pesticide MRLs

Summary

The European Commission is reducing the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for carbetamide on lettuces and escaroles/ broad-leaved endives to 0.01 mg/kg. The MRLs for all other products were already set at the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods), but the LOD is being lowered from 0.02 to 0.01 mg/kg for tree nuts, witloofs/ Belgian endives, lentils, peas, chicory roots, oilseeds, and oil fruits.

EU lowers MRLs for carbetamide on lettuces and escaroles/ broad-leaved endives

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2382 of 29 September 2023 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 carbetamide, carboxin and triflumuron in or on certain products

Update

The European Commission is reducing the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for carbetamide on lettuces and escaroles/ broad-leaved endives to 0.01 mg/kg. The MRLs for all other products were already set at the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods), but the LOD is being lowered from 0.02 to 0.01 mg/kg for tree nuts, witloofs/ Belgian endives, lentils, peas, chicory roots, oilseeds, and oil fruits.

Impacted Products

lettuces, escaroles and broad-leaved endives, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, chestnuts, coconuts, hazelnuts, cobnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nut kernels, pistachios, walnuts, witloofs, Belgian endives, lentils, peas, chicory roots, linseeds, peanuts, groundnuts, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, rapeseeds, canola seeds, soyabeans, mustard seeds, cotton seeds, pumpkin seeds, safflower seeds, borage seeds, gold of pleasure seeds, hemp seeds, castor beans, olives, oil palm kernels, oil palm fruits, kapok

What is changing?

The EU has lowered the MRLs for lettuces and escaroles/ broad-leaved endives from 0.06 to 0.01 mg/kg. On all other products, the MRL was already set at the LOD, but is being lowered to 0.01 mg/kg on tree nuts, witloofs/ Belgian endives, lentils, peas, chicory roots, oilseeds, and oil fruits.

Why?

The approval of carbetamide for use in the EU expired on 31 May 2021, and the applicant withdrew the application for its renewal. As this substance is no longer authorised, and there are no Codex Alimentarius MRLs or import tolerances for carbetamide, all MRLs have been reduced to the LOD.

Timeline

The new MRLs will apply from 25 April 2024.

Recommended Actions

Suppliers to the EU market of lettuces, escaroles, and broad-leaved endives must ensure that alternative solutions to existing use of carbetamide on these products are found by April 2024.

Products exported before 25 April 2024 that comply with the old MRLs will not be removed from the EU market after 25 April, even if they are not compliant with the new MRLs.

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

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2382

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EU lowers MRLs for carbetamide on lettuces and escaroles/ broad-leaved endives

Regulation

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2382

What is changing and why?

The maximum residue levels (MRLs) for lettuces, escaroles, and broad-leaved endives will be lowered from 0.06 to 0.01 mg/kg.

MRLs are reduced to 0.01 mg/kg on tree nuts, witloofs/ Belgian endives, lentils, peas, chicory roots, oilseeds, and oil fruits.

Actions

Suppliers who sell lettuces, escaroles, and broad-leaved endives to the EU market need to find ways to grow these crops without using carbetamide by April 2024. Products that were shipped before 25 April 2024, and that meet the old rules for MRLs, will not be taken off the EU market after 25 April, even if they do not meet the new MRLs.

Timeline

The new MRLs will apply from 25 April 2024.

Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.