Maximum residue levels for cypermethrins

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 alpha-cypermethrin and cypermethrin in or on certain products

Draft Annex II

Update

The European Union (EU) has notified the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee of a revised draft proposal reviewing the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for cypermethrins (G/SPS/N/EU/702/Add.1). It is proposing to lower the MRLs for these substances in certain products because their use on those products is no longer authorised in the EU. The EU also proposes to set separate new specific MRLs for alpha-cypermethrin (see Maximum residue levels for alpha-cypermethrin).

This includes reducing the MRLs to the limit of determination (LOD) on several products. (The LOD is the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods.) This could have an impact on suppliers of a wide range of products, in particular fruits (pears, certain berries, litchis, mangoes, papayas), sweet peppers, cucumbers, courgettes, lettuces, spinaches, beans, and peas.

Impacted Products

Grapefruits, oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins, apples, quinces, pears, medlars, loquats/ Japanese medlars, apricots, peaches, cherries, plums, table grapes, wine grapes, blackberries, dewberries, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, currants, gooseberries, rose hips, mulberries, azaroles, elderberries, dates, figs, carambolas, kaki/ Japanese persimmons, jambuls/ jambolans, kiwi fruits, passionfruits, prickly pears, star apples/ cainitos, American persimmons, avocados, bananas, granate apples/ pomegranates, cherimoyas, guavas, pineapples, breadfruits, soursops, table olives, kumquats, litchis, mangoes, papayas, potatoes, cassava roots/ manioc, yams, arrowroots, sweet potatoes, beetroots, carrots, celeriac, parsnips, radishes, salsifies, swedes, turnips, horseradishes, Jerusalem artichokes, parsley roots, garlic, shallots, onions, spring onions, tomatoes, sweet peppers/ bell peppers, aubergines/ eggplants, cucumbers, courgettes, gherkins, watermelons, pumpkins, melons, broccoli, head cabbages, Chinese cabbages/ pe-tsai, kales, kohlrabies, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts, lamb's lettuces, lettuces, escaroles, Roman rocket/ rucola, red mustards, cresses, landcresses, baby leaf crops, spinaches, purslanes, chards, watercresses, grape leaves, witloofs/Belgian endives, chervil, chives, parsley, sage, basil and edible flowers, celery leaves, rosemary, thyme, laurel/ bay leaves, tarragon, beans (with pods), peas (with pods), beans (without pods), peas (without pods), lentils, asparagus, cardoons, celeries, Florence fennels, rhubarbs, bamboo shoots, palm hearts, globe artichokes, leeks, cultivated fungi, mosses and lichens, wild fungi, algae and prokaryote organisms, linseeds, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, rapeseeds/ canola seeds, soyabeans, pumpkin seeds, castor beans, cotton seeds, safflower seeds, olives for oil production, oil palm kernels, oil palm fruits, kapok, barley, oats, rice, rye, wheat, sorghum, valerian, ginseng, anise/ aniseed, black caraway/ black cumin, celery, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, fenugreek, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, capers, saffron, mace, sugar beet roots, chicory roots, muscle from swine and cattle, fat from swine, liver, kidney and edible offals from swine, cattle, sheep, goats and horses, fat from cattle, muscle from sheep, goats, horses, muscle from poultry, commodities from other farmed terrestrial mammals, milk (cattle), bird eggs, honey

What is changing?

The EU proposes to amend the MRLs for cypermethrins (sum of isomers) on certain products, as summarised in Table 1. In addition, the EU is discussing setting specific MRLs for alpha-cypermethrins: see Maximum residue levels for alpha-cypermethrin.

Why?

Following a review of the existing MRLs for cypermethrins (“cypermethrin including other mixtures of constituent isomers: sum of isomers”), the European Food Safety Authority recommended maintaining or increasing these MRLs according to available good agricultural practices (GAPs), or based on Codex Alimentarius MRLs (CXLs) where they are considered safe (EFSA 2023).

For certain products, risks were identified that require action (EFSA 2023). Because these risks are often associated with the more toxic alpha-cypermethrin, rather than reducing cypermethrin MRLs to the LOD, the European Commission proposes two sets of MRLs, one for cypermethrin (sum of isomers) and a separate one for alpha-cypermethrin. This approach will allow the EU to maintain cypermethrin MRLs for many products identified as a risk, and also to maintain alignment with CXLs (European Commission 2024).

Timeline

The Regulation is expected to be published in October 2026, and will apply 6 months after its publication.

Recommended Actions

Competent authorities of countries that are members of the WTO can submit comments on the EU’s proposal by emailing the EU SPS Enquiry Point until 1 May 2026.

Suppliers to the EU market of affected products should seek alternative chemical and non-chemical alternatives to the use of cypermethrins.

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/2023/1863 Draft V7