Maximum residue levels for dicofol

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

Draft Annex V

Update

The European Union (EU) has notified the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee of a draft proposal to reduce the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for dicofol on certain products to the limit of determination (LOD) (G/SPS/N/EU/959). (The LOD is the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods.) There will be particular impacts on melons, cotton seeds, teas, hops, and poultry products.

The EU also proposes to reduce the current LODs on some other products.

Impacted Products

Almonds, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, chestnuts, coconuts, hazelnuts/cobnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nut kernels, pistachios, walnuts, garlic, onions, shallots, spring onions/green onions, Welsh onions, melons, linseeds, peanuts/groundnuts, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, rapeseed/canola seeds, soyabeans, mustard seeds, pumpkin seeds, safflower seeds, borage seeds, gold of pleasure seeds, hemp seeds, castor beans, cotton seeds, olives for oil production, oil palm kernels, oil palm fruits, kapok, teas, chamomile, hibiscus/roselle, rose, jasmine, lime/linden, other flower infusions, strawberry, rooibos, mate/maté, other leaves/herb infusions, valerian, ginseng, other root infusions, cocoa beans, carobs, hops, anise/aniseed, black caraway/black cumin, celery, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, fenugreek, nutmeg, other seed spices, allspice/pimento, Sichuan pepper, caraway, juniper berry, peppercorn (black, green, white), vanilla, tamarind, other fruit spices, cinnamon, other bark spices, liquorice, ginger, turmeric/curcuma, horseradish, other root/rhizome spices, cloves, capers, other bud spices, saffron, other flower pistil spices, mace, other aril spices, muscle, liver, kidney, edible offals (poultry), milk (cattle, sheep, goat, horse), bird eggs (chicken, duck, geese, quail), honey and other apiculture products

What is changing?

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

Why?

Dicofol has never been approved for use within the EU, and the MRLs for imported produce 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 there is not sufficient toxicological data for melons, cotton seeds, teas, hops, and poultry products to allow a complete exposure assessment (EFSA 2023).

Timeline

The proposed new MRLs are expected to apply from September 2027.

Recommended Actions

Suppliers to the EU market of melons, cotton seeds, teas, hops, and poultry products should review their existing use of dicofol and start to look for alternative (chemical or non-chemical) solutions in anticipation of the MRL reductions.

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 25 August 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.

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

Tables & Figures

Source: based on Draft Annex V