Maximum residue levels for imazalil
- Food safety
- Pesticide MRLs
Summary
The European Union (EU) has notified the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee of a draft proposal to increase the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for imazalil on bananas and citrus fruits. It is also proposed to reduce the MRL for imazalil on melons to the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods), with more minor reductions to the MRLs on courgettes, cucumbers, and gherkins (G/SPS/N/EU/943).
EU to increase MRLs for imazalil on bananas and citrus fruits; and decrease MRLs on courgettes, cucumbers, gherkins, and melons
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 carbofuran, imazalil, mandipropamid, propaquizafop, quizalofop-P-ethyl and quizalofop-P-tefuryl in or on certain products
Draft Annex (PLAN/2025/2832)
Update
The European Union (EU) has notified the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee of a draft proposal to increase the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for imazalil on bananas and citrus fruits. It is also proposed to reduce the MRL for imazalil on melons to the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods), with more minor reductions to the MRLs on courgettes, cucumbers, and gherkins (G/SPS/N/EU/943).
Impacted Products
Bananas, grapefruits, oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins, other citrus fruits, courgettes, cucumbers, gherkins, melons
What is changing?
The EU proposes to amend the MRLs for imazalil as summarised in Table 1.
Why?
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has recommended increasing the MRL for imazalil on citrus fruits to 7 mg/kg, as it did not identify any risk for consumers (EFSA 2025). In this evaluation, EFSA also recommended increasing the MRL on bananas to 3 mg/kg in line with the Codex MRL (CXL) adopted in July 2019. A good agricultural practice (GAP) for melons submitted for review was not sufficiently supported by data, and no import tolerance has been assessed for this product.
Following a request to modify the MRLs for cucumbers, courgettes, and gherkins, EFSA (2023) proposed MRLs that are safe for consumers.
Timeline
The proposed new MRLs are expected to apply from September 2027.
Recommended Actions
Suppliers of melons to the EU market should start to explore alternative chemical and non-chemical solutions to the use of imazalil. Suppliers of cucumbers, courgettes, and gherkins should review their use of imazalil and assess whether any changes will be needed to existing GAPs to ensure compliance with the new MRLs.
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 30 June 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.
The EU takes into account CXLs established by Codex Alimentarius, but will set different MRLs where it considers that a CXL will not give adequate protection to consumers.
Resources
EFSA (2023) Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for imazalil in courgettes, cucumbers and gherkins. EFSA Journal, 21(4): e07980.
EFSA (2025) Evaluation of confirmatory data following the Article 12 MRL review and modification of the existing maximum residue levels in citrus fruits for imazalil. EFSA Journal, 23(8): e9614.
Sources
Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for carbofuran, imazalil, mandipropamid, propaquizafop, quizalofop-P-ethyl and quizalofop-P-tefuryl in or on certain products
Draft Annex (PLAN/2025/2832)
Tables & Figures
Source: based on Draft Annex (PLAN/2025/2832)
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EU to increase MRLs for imazalil on bananas and citrus fruits; and decrease MRLs on courgettes, cucumbers, gherkins, and melons
Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for carbofuran, imazalil, mandipropamid, propaquizafop, quizalofop-P-ethyl and quizalofop-P-tefuryl in or on certain products
Draft Annex (PLAN/2025/2832)
What is changing and why?
The European Union (EU) is proposing changes to the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for imazalil as summarised in Table 1.
Actions
Suppliers of melons to the EU market should start to explore alternative chemical and non-chemical solutions to the use of imazalil. Suppliers of cucumbers, courgettes, and gherkins should review their use of imazalil and assess whether any changes will be needed to existing good agricultural practices (GAPs) to ensure compliance with the new MRLs.
Competent authorities of countries that are members of the World Trade Organization can submit comments on the EU’s proposal by emailing the EU SPS Enquiry Point until 30 June 2026.
Timeline
The proposed new MRLs are expected to apply from September 2027.
Tables & Figures
Source: based on Draft Annex (PLAN/2025/2832)
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.