Maximum residue levels for metribuzin and metribuzin-DADK

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 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, chlormequat, metribuzin, metribuzin-desamino-diketo (metribuzin-DADK), terbuthylazine and triclopyr in or on certain products

Draft Annex

Update

The EU is discussing the reduction of maximum residue levels (MRLs) for metribuzin to the limit of determination (LOD) on all products. (The LOD is the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods.) It is also considering setting separate MRLs for metribuzin’s metabolite, metribuzin-DADK.

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, cherries (sweet), peaches, plums, table grapes, wine grapes, strawberries, blackberries, dewberries, raspberries (red and yellow), blueberries, cranberries, currants (black, red, white), gooseberries (green, red, yellow), rose hips, mulberries (black and white), azaroles/Mediterranean medlars, elderberries, 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, radishes, salsifies, swedes/rutabagas, turnips, garlic, onions, shallots, spring onions/green onions, Welsh onions, tomatoes, sweet peppers/bell peppers, aubergine/eggplants, okra/ladies’ fingers, cucumbers, gherkins, courgettes, melons, pumpkins, watermelons, sweetcorn, broccoli, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts, head cabbages, Chinese cabbages/pe-tsai, kales, kohlrabis, 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, chervil, chives, celery leaves, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, basil and edible flowers, laurel/bay leaves, tarragon, beans, peas, 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, mustard seeds, pumpkin seeds, safflower seeds, borage seeds, gold of pleasure seeds, hemp seeds, castor beans, soybeans, cotton seeds, olives for oil production, oil palm kernels and fruits, kapok, barley, buckwheat and other pseudocereals, maize/corn, common millet/proso millet, oats, rice, rye, sorghum, wheat, tea, anise/aniseed, black caraway/black cumin, celery, coriander, cumin, dill, fennel, fenugreek, nutmeg, allspice/pimento, Sichuan pepper, caraway, cardamom, juniper berry, peppercorn (black, green, white), vanilla, tamarind, liquorice, turmeric/curcuma, sugar beet roots, sugar canes, chicory roots, swine, cattle, sheep, goat, equine, poultry, other farmed terrestrial animals; milk (cattle, sheep, goat, horse), bird eggs (chicken, duck, geese, quail), honey

What is changing?

The EU is discussing lowering the MRLs for metribuzin on all products to the LOD. The existing LOD of 0.1 mg/kg is further lowered to 0.01–0.05 mg/kg.
In addition, there is discussion of establishing two separate residue definitions, one for ‘metribuzin’ and the other for its metabolite ‘metribuzin-desamino-diketo (metribuzin-DADK)’. The MRLs under discussion for metribuzin are summarised in Table 1, and those for metribuzin-DADK in Table 2.

Why?

In 2024 the European Commission decided not to renew its approval of the active substance metribuzin due to concerns about its endocrine-disrupting properties. The two separate residue definitions under consideration, ‘metribuzin’ and its metabolite ‘metribuzin-desamino-diketo (metribuzin-DADK)’, account for the presence of metribuzin-DADK as a residue from the use of metribuzin. The toxicological profile and contribution to consumer exposure of the metabolite (metribuzin-DADK) is different from that of its parent compound metribuzin (EFSA 2023).

Timeline

This Regulation is still under discussion. EU Member States will need to withdraw authorisations of products containing metribuzin by 24 November 2025. A revision of metribuzin MRLs is expected for 2026.

Recommended Actions

Suppliers to the EU market of cassava roots/manioc, land cresses, and olives for oil production should review their current use of metribuzin and start to seek alternative (chemical or non-chemical) solutions in anticipation of the MRL reductions.

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.

In 2024, the European Commission decided not to renew its approval for the active substance metribuzin (Regulation 2024/2806). European farmers are therefore no longer able to use pesticides containing metribuzin (a herbicide used to control weeds in cereals and a range of horticultural crops).

For an overview of all withdrawals, see Latest pesticide non-renewals, withdrawals and restrictions.

Resources

Sources

Tables & Figures

Source: based on PLAN/2025/1086-Rev1 Annex V

Source: based on PLAN/2025/1086-Rev1 Annex V