Maximum residue levels for copper compounds

Draft Commission Regulation amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for copper compounds in or on certain products [download]

Draft Annex II [download]

Update

The European Union (EU) is discussing its review of maximum residue levels (MRLs) for copper compounds. This may involve reducing the MRLs on a wide range of products, which is likely to have an impact on suppliers.

Impacted Products

Grapefruits, oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins, almonds, Brazil nuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nut kernels, pistachios, walnuts, apples, pears, quinces, medlars, loquats/Japanese medlars, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums, table grapes, wine grapes, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, currants (black, red, white), gooseberries (green, red, yellow), rose hips, mulberries (black and white), azaroles/Mediterranean medlars, elderberries, figs, kaki/Japanese persimmons, kiwi fruits (green, red, yellow), litchis/lychees, passionfruits/maracujas, prickly pears/cactus fruits, star apples/cainitos, American persimmons/Virginia kaki, avocados, bananas, mangoes, pineapples, papayas, granate apples/pomegranates, cherimoyas, guavas, breadfruits, soursops/guanabanas, potatoes, cassava roots/manioc, sweet potatoes, yams, arrowroots, beetroots, carrots, celeriac/turnip rooted celeries, Jerusalem artichokes, parsnips, parsley roots/Hamburg root parsley, radishes, salsifies, swedes/rutabagas, turnips, horseradishes, garlic, onions, shallots spring onions/green onions, Welsh onions, tomatoes, aubergines/eggplants, sweet peppers/bell peppers, okra/lady’s fingers, melons, pumpkins, watermelons, sweetcorn, broccoli, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts, head cabbages, Chinese cabbages/pe-tsai, kales, kohlrabies, lamb’s lettuces, lettuces, escaroles, cresses and other sprouts and shoots, land cresses, Roman rocket/rucola, red mustards, baby leaf crops, spinaches, purslanes, chards/beet leaves, watercresses, chervil, chives, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, basil and edible flowers, laurel/bay leaves, tarragon, grape leaves and similar species, Belgian endives, celery leaves, beans and peas (with and without pods), lentils, asparagus, cardoons, bamboo shoots, palm hearts, leeks, globe artichokes, cultivated fungi, wild fungi, mosses and lichens, algae and prokaryotes organisms, beans, lentils, lupins, peas, linseeds, hemp seeds, peanuts/groundnuts, sunflower seeds, rapeseeds/canola seeds, soyabeans, mustard seeds, pumpkin seeds, castor beans, oil palm kernels, oil palm fruits, kapok, barley, millet, buckwheat, sorghum, oat, rye, rice, wheat, rye, sorghum, wheat, chamomile, rooibos, hibiscus, rose, jasmine, lime, maté, valerian, ginseng, aniseed, black cumin, celery, dill, fenugreek, nutmeg, allspice/pimento, Sichuan pepper, caraway, juniper berry, tamarind, saffron, mace, coriander, cumin, cinnamon, fennel, cardamom, vanilla, liquorice, turmeric/curcuma, cloves, capers, sugar canes, chicory roots, fat (swine, poultry), muscle (swine, goats, other farmed terrestrial animals), liver (swine, cattle, sheep, goats, horse, poultry, other farmed terrestrial animals), kidney and edible offals (swine, cattle, sheep, goats, horse, poultry, other farmed terrestrial animals), milk (cattle, sheep, horse), milk (goat), bird eggs (chicken, duck, geese, quail), honey and other apiculture products, cocoa beans, carobs/St John’s breads, hops, teas, coffee beans

What is changing?

The EU is discussing the amendment of MRLs for copper compounds on certain products, as summarised in Table 1.

Why?

The discussion is based on updated scientific assessments by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA 2025), which reviewed all sources of exposure and considered both authorised uses of copper as a pesticide and the widespread natural presence of copper in soil and water.

Timeline

This Regulation is still under discussion and is expected to be adopted in 2026.

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

Tables & Figures

Source: based on PLAN/2025/350 v1 D108179/02