Maximum residue levels for cyproconazole

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 cyproconazole and spirodiclofen in or on certain products

Update

The EU has informed the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee that it intends to amend the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for cyproconazole (G/SPS/N/EU/713). It proposes to reduce the MRLs to the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods). This will apply to all products except those for which MRLs are based on Codex MRLs (CXLs) or import tolerances, which are considered safe. There will be potential impacts on exports of certain fruits (pome fruits, stone fruits, berries), pulses, oilseeds, and cereals.

Impacted Products

Apples, pears, quinces, medlars, loquats/ Japanese medlars, apricots, cherries, wine grapes, table grapes, lamb’s lettuces/corn salad, asparagus, globe artichokes, celeries, beans, lentils, peas, lupins/ lupini beans, poppy seeds, rapeseeds/ canola seeds, mustard seeds, borage seeds, gold of pleasure seeds, soyabeans, barley, oat, buckwheat, common millet/ proso millet, wheat, maize/ corn, rice, sorghum, coffee beans, sugar beet roots, muscle and fat from swine, cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and other farmed terrestrial animals

What is changing?

The EU proposes to reduce the MRLs for cyproconazole as summarised in Table 1.

Additionally, the LOD will be lowered from 0.05 to 0.01 mg/kg, except on teas, infusions, cocoa beans, hops, and spices.

Why?

Cyproconazole is no longer authorised in the EU because the manufacturer has not submitted a new application for approval. Therefore all MRLs should be set at the LOD.

However, some products for which CXLs are set have been reviewed by EFSA (2021), who concluded that they present no health risks for the consumer.

Timeline

Expected date of adoption: August 2024.

Expected date of entry into force: October 2024.

The new MRLs will apply from approximately April 2025 – the precise date will be known once the Regulation is published.

Recommended Actions

Exporters of the fruits listed in Table 1, pulses, oilseeds, maize, rice, and sorghum in particular should review their current use of cyproconazole and evaluate possible alternative solutions in anticipation of MRL changes.

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

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Regulation

Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for cyproconazole and spirodiclofen in or on certain products

What is changing and why?

The active substance cyproconazole is no longer approved in the EU because the manufacturer has not submitted a new application for approval. Therefore the EU proposes to reduce the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for this substance to the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods). This will apply to all products except those for which MRLs are based on Codex MRLs (CXLs) or import tolerances, which have been reviewed by EFSA (2021) and found to present no health risks for the consumer. The changes are set out in Table 1.

Actions

Exporters of affected the fruits listed in Table 1, pulses, and oilseeds products in particular should explore alternative solutions to their current use of cyproconazole.

Timeline

The new MRLs will apply from approximately April 2025 – the precise date will be known once the Regulation is published.

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