Maximum residue levels for pyridaben

Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2609 of 7 October 2024 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for napropamide, pyridaben and tebufenpyrad in or on certain products

Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/679 of 23 March 2023 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for pyridaben, pyridate, pyriproxyfen and triclopyr in or on certain products

Update

The EU has decided to lower the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pyridaben on some products. Where data in support of proposed MRLs is not available, the MRLs will be reduced to the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods). The most significant impacts will potentially be on exports of pome fruits, apricots, peaches, and beans.

In 2023, the EU increased the MRL for pyridaben on grapefruits to 0.5 mg/kg, following a request for an import tolerance based on the use of pyridaben in the USA.

Impacted Products

Grapefruit, apples, pears, quinces, medlars, loquats/ Japanese medlars, apricots, peaches, beans (with pods), commodities from pigs, cattle, horses, sheep, goats, poultry, other farmed terrestrial animals, amphibians and reptiles, terrestrial invertebrate animals, wild terrestrial vertebrate animals

What is changing?

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

The MRL for pyridaben on grapefruit has increased from 0.3 to 0.5 mg/kg.

Why?

Following a request for an import tolerance level based on the use of pyridaben on grapefruit in the USA, and the determination of safe levels for consumers by EFSA (2022), the EU has accepted the proposed MRL for use on grapefruit.

While reviewing the MRLs for pyridaben, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) found gaps in the data needed to support the MRLs for animal products, pome fruits, apricots, peaches, and beans.

Regarding animal products, the applicant provided additional information to support the MRLs, and EFSA (2023) concluded that the data insufficiency was addressed. However, since advances in analytical techniques allow lower LODs to be achieved on animal products, the EU proposes to lower the LOD for all products of animal origin except honey.

Regarding pome fruits, the applicant did not provide all the data needed for pyridaben residue trials. However, new data for apples were submitted supporting alternative good agricultural practices (GAP). Based on this, EFSA (2023) concluded that a lower MRL for apples can also apply to other pome fruits.

For apricots, peaches, and beans (with pods), the applicant did not provide additional information. The MRLs are therefore lowered to the LOD.

Timeline

The new MRLs apply from 28 April 2025. Products exported before April 2025 that comply with the old MRLs will not be removed from the EU market after April 2025, even if they do not comply with the new MRLs.

The new MRL for pyridaben on grapefruit has applied since 13 April 2023.

Recommended Actions

Exporters of apricots, peaches, beans (with pods), and animal products should review their current use of pyridaben and evaluate possible alternative solutions in anticipation of MRL changes. Exporters of pome fruits should assess whether current agricultural practices can comply with the proposed reduced MRLs.

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

Tables & Figures

Source: based on Regulation (EU) 2024/2609