Maximum residue levels for fenarimol

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 fenarimol to the limit of determination (LOD) of 0.01 mg/kg on apricots, cherries, peaches, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries, bananas, cucumbers, gherkins, courgettes, melons, watermelons, and hops (G/SPS/N/EU/959). A reduction of the current LODs on certain other products is also proposed. (The LOD is the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods.)

Impacted Products

Grapefruits, oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, chestnuts, coconuts, hazelnuts/cobnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nut kernels, pistachios, walnuts, apples, pears, quinces, medlars, loquats/Japanese medlars, apricots, peaches, cherries (sweet), plums, table and wine grapes, strawberries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries, blackberries, dewberries, blueberries, cranberries, rose hips, mulberries (black and white), azaroles/Mediterranean medlars, elderberries, bananas, dates, figs, table olives, kumquats, carambolas, kaki/Japanese persimmons, jambuls/jambolans, Kiwi fruits, litchis/lychees, passionfruits/maracujas, prickly pears/cactus fruits, star apples/cainitos, American persimmons/Virginia kaki, avocados, bananas, mangoes, papayas, granate apples/pomegranates, cherimoyas, guavas, pineapples, breadfruits, durians, soursops/guanabanas, potatoes, cassava roots/manioc, sweet potatoes, yams, arrowroots, beetroots, carrots, celeriac/turnip rooted celeries, horseradishes, Jerusalem artichokes, parsnips, parsley roots/Hamburg root parsley, radishes, salsifies, swedes/rutabagas, turnips, garlic, onions, shallots, spring onions/green onions, Welsh onions, tomatoes, sweet peppers/bell peppers, aubergine/eggplants, okra/ladies’ fingers, sweetcorn, cucumbers, gherkins, courgettes, melons, pumpkins, watermelons, broccoli, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts, head cabbages, Chinese cabbages/pe-tsai, kales, kohlrabies, lamb’s lettuces/corn salads, lettuces, escaroles/broad-leaved endives, cresses and other sprouts and shoots, land cresses, Roman rocket/rucola, red mustards, baby leaf crops, spinaches, purslanes, chards/beet leaves, grape leaves, watercresses, witloofs/Belgian endives, beans (with and without pods), peas (with and without pods), lentils, asparagus, cardoons, celeries, Florence fennels, globe artichokes, leeks, rhubarbs, bamboo shoots, palm hearts, cultivated fungi, wild fungi, mosses and lichens, algae and prokaryotes, lupins/lupini beans, linseeds, peanuts/groundnuts, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, rapeseeds/canola seeds, soyabeans, mustard seeds, cotton seeds, pumpkin seeds, safflower seeds, borage seeds, gold of pleasure seeds, hemp seeds, castor beans, olives for oil production, oil palm kernels, oil palm fruits, kapok, barley, buckwheat and other pseudocereals, maize/corn, common millet/proso millet, oats, rice, rye, sorghum, wheat, sugar beet roots, sugar canes, chicory roots, hops, animal products (swine, cattle, sheep, goat, horse, poultry, other farmed terrestrial animals), milk (cattle, sheep, goat, horse), bird eggs (chicken, duck, geese, quail), amphibians and reptiles, terrestrial invertebrate animals, wild terrestrial vertebrate animals

What is changing?

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

Why?

The MRLs for fenarimol 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 was not able to conclude a risk assessment due to inadequate toxicological data (EFSA 2023).

Timeline

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

Recommended Actions

Suppliers to the EU market of apricots, cherries, peaches, grapes, strawberries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries, bananas, cucumbers, gherkins, courgettes, melons, watermelons, and hops should review their existing use of fenarimol 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