Maximum residue levels for cyproconazole

Withdrawn Draft Commission Regulation amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue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 European Union (EU) is withdrawing its 2024 proposal to reduce the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for cyproconazole on certain products. The 2024 proposal has been withdrawn because the European Commission is now proposing a new approach to setting MRLs for pesticides that are not approved in the EU and that are categorised as highly hazardous for public health or the environment, such as cyproconazole (see Simplification of rules on pesticide MRLs and approvals).

What is changing?

The EU is withdrawing its 2024 proposal. This proposal was to reduce the MRLs for cyproconazole on certain products to the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods), except for certain products for which MRLs are based on Codex MRLs (CXLs) or import tolerances that have been found to present no health risks for consumers. The European Commission informed the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee about this withdrawal in April 2026 (G/SPS/N/EU/713/Add.1)

Why?

Cyproconazole is no longer authorised in the EU because the manufacturer has not submitted a new application for approval. In January 2024, the EU notified the WTO that it intended to reduce the MRLs for cyproconazole (G/SPS/N/EU/713) to the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods). This would apply to all products except those with MRLs based on Codex MRLs (CXLs) or import tolerances that are considered safe by EFSA (2021). These exceptions included certain fruits (pome fruits, stone fruits, berries), pulses, oilseeds, and cereals.

In September 2024, the European Parliament requested the European Commission to withdraw this proposed Regulation and present a new one, setting the MRLs for cyproconazole on all products to the LOD (see Maximum residue levels for benomyl, carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl, cyproconazole, and spirodiclofen).

In December 2025 the Commission proposed a new approach to the setting of MRLs for pesticides that are not approved in the EU. For those that are categorised as highly hazardous for public health or the environment, the MRLs for all these substances on all products would be reduced to the LOD. Cyproconazole is categorised by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) as toxic for reproduction category 1B.

See Simplification of rules on pesticide MRLs and approvals.

Timeline

No timetable has been given for the development of a new MRL proposal for cyproconazole.

Background

In January 2024, the EU informed the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee that it intended to reduce the MRLs for cyproconazole (G/SPS/N/EU/713) to the LOD. This would apply to all products except those for which MRLs are based on Codex MRLs (CXLs) or import tolerances, which are considered safe. There would be potential impacts on exports of certain fruits (pome fruits, stone fruits, berries), pulses, oilseeds, and cereals.

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

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