Maximum residue levels for diazinon

Draft Commission Regulation amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for azocyclotin, chlorfenapyr, cyhexatin, diazinon, dicofol, endosulfan, fenarimol, fenpropathrin and profenofos in or on certain products

European Commission (2025) Health and Food Safety Directorate General, Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, Section Phytopharmaceuticals – Residues, 24–25 November 2025

Update

The European Union (EU) is discussing the revision of maximum residue levels (MRLs) for diazinon. The European Commission initially proposed to reduce the MRLs on certain products to the limit of determination (LOD) of 0.01 mg/kg. (The LOD is the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods.) However, following comments by EU Member States concerning authorised veterinary medicinal products that contain diazinon, the Commission intends to remove diazinon from its original proposal and draft a new proposal for this substance.

Impacted Products

Almonds, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, chestnuts, coconuts, hazelnuts/cobnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nut kernels, pistachios, walnuts, cranberries, pineapples, radishes, garlic, onions, shallots, spring onions/green onions, Welsh onions, sweet peppers/bell peppers, sweet corn, Chinese cabbages/pe-tsai, kohlrabies, linseeds, peanuts/groundnuts, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, rapeseed/canola seeds, soybeans, mustard seeds, cotton seeds, pumpkin seeds, safflower seeds, borage seed, gold of pleasure seeds, hemp seeds, castor beans, olives for oil production, oil palm kernels, oil palm fruits, kapok, hops, anise/aniseed, black caraway/black cumin, celery, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, fenugreek, nutmeg, allspice/pimento, Sichuan pepper, caraway, cardamom, juniper berry, peppercorn (black, green, white), vanilla, tamarind, liquorice, turmeric/curcuma, sugar beet roots, muscle (swine, cattle, sheep, goat, poultry), fat (swine, cattle, sheep, goat), liver, kidney (swine, cattle, sheep, goat), edible offals (poultry), milk (cattle, sheep, goat, horse), bird eggs (chicken, duck, geese, quail), honey and other apiculture products

What is changing?

Following feedback from Member States, the European Commission will remove diazinon from its original proposal that included this substance (European Commission 2025).

The Commission initially proposed the reduction of MRLs on certain products to the limit of determination (LOD) of 0.01 mg/kg. It will draft a new proposal that will take into account the presence of diazinon in authorised veterinary medicinal products.

Why?

The MRLs for diazinon that have been in place since the adoption of Regulation 396/2005 have never been reviewed. Following a series of evaluations and a stakeholder consultation (see EFSA invites submission of data to support review of certain MRLs), the European Food Safety Authority has concluded that the existing MRLs are not substantiated (EFSA 2023). However, a new proposal will also take into account the presence of this substance in veterinary medicinal products.

Timeline

A timeline for the presentation of a new proposal has not yet been given.

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.

For further information on the EU’s process and principles for setting MRLs, see Regulation of pesticide residues in the EU – Questions and Answers.

Resources

Sources