Maximum residue levels for metolachlor

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 chlorpropham, fuberidazole, ipconazole, methoxyfenozide, S-metolachlor and triflusulfuron in or on certain products

Draft Annex (PLAN/2024/1823_v1)

Update

The EU maximum residue levels (MRLs) for metolachlor are set at the limit of determination (LOD) for all products. (The LOD is the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods.) The LOD for metolachlor is currently between 0.01 and 0.05 mg/kg, depending on the product.

The European Commission has informed the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee that it now intends to lower the MRLs for metolachlor to 0.01 mg/kg for most products (G/SPS/N/EU/802).

Impacted Products

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

What is changing?

MRLs for metolachlor are currently set at an LOD between 0.01 and 0.05 mg/kg. The European Commission proposes to reduce the MRL (LOD) for metolachlor to 0.01 mg/kg on all fruits, vegetables, pulses, oilseeds, cereals, and sugar (see “Impacted products”). For herbs, the new MRL will be 0.02 mg/kg.

The residue definition of metolachlor is “Metolachlor and S-metolachlor [metolachlor including other mixtures of constituent isomers including S‐metolachlor (sum of isomers)]” (Draft Annex).

Why?

The approval for use of S-metolachlor expired in January 2024 (see S-metolachlor: Non renewal of EU approval). As no Codex MRLs or import tolerances exist for this substance, the MRLs are set at the LOD, and these LODs have been updated to reflect the most recent available analytical methods.

Timeline

The new MRLs will apply from approximately March 2026 – the precise date will be known once the Regulation is published.

What are the major implications for exporting countries?

As the MRLs were already set at the LOD, the proposed changes are not expected to have a significant impact on the use of this substance on products intended for the EU market. However, these changes may have an impact on the analytical methods used by laboratories.

Recommended Actions

Laboratories testing for metolachlor in products for export to the EU market should verify that their analytical methods are able to test at the proposed new LODs.

Competent authorities of non-EU countries that are WTO members may comment on the EU proposal by emailing the EU SPS Enquiry Point until 14 February 2025 (G/SPS/N/EU/802).

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.

Sources