Maximum residue levels for methomyl

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1783 of 15 September 2023 amending Annexes II and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for denatonium benzoate, diuron, etoxazole, methomyl and teflubenzuron in or on certain products

Update

The European Commission is reducing the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for methomyl to the limit of determination (LOD) on all products except kumquats and gherkins. (The LOD is the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods.) Where the detection level of 0.01 mg/kg cannot be met due to technical limitations, the MRL will be 0.02 or 0.05 mg/kg. There are implications for exporters of vegetables, pulses, oilseeds, and cereals.

Impacted Products

sweet peppers, bell peppers, melons, watermelons, pumpkins, lettuces, beans, peas, soya beans, cotton seeds, maize, corn, oats

What is changing?

The EU has amended the MRLs for methomyl as summarised in Table 1.

Why?

Methomyl is no longer permitted for use in the EU. The existing MRLs set for methomyl have therefore been deleted and set to the LOD, except on kumquats and gherkins. Where the detection level of 0.01 mg/kg cannot be met because analytical methods cannot detect such low levels, the MRL is 0.02 or 0.05 mg/kg.

The MRLs for methomyl on kumquats and gherkins are based on Codex MRLs that are considered safe by EFSA (2015) and are therefore not changed. Codex MRLs have been set for methomyl on other products, but EFSA concluded that there was not enough data available to support those MRLs, in particular due to missing data on the metabolism of methomyl in leafy crops, pulses, and oilseeds.

Timeline

The new MRLs will apply from 8 April 2024. Products exported before that date, that comply with the old MRLs, will not be removed from the EU market after 8 April, even if they are not compliant with the new MRLs.

Recommended Actions

Suppliers to the EU market of sweet peppers/ bell peppers, melons, watermelons, pumpkins, lettuces, beans (with pods), peas (with pods), dry beans, soya beans, cotton seeds, maize/ corn, and oats must find alternative solutions to existing use of methomyl on these products by April 2024.

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.

Resources

Sources

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Regulation

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1783

What is changing and why?

Changes to the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for methomyl are set out in Table 1.

Actions

For all products in Table 1, it is recommended that suppliers review their current use of methomyl and look for alternative solutions.

Timeline

The new MRLs will apply from 8 April 2024.

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