Maximum residue levels for sodium aluminium silicate
Published by AGRINFO on ; Revised
EU establishes MRLs for sodium aluminium silicate on all products at 0.01 mg/kg
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/377 of 15 February 2023 amending Annexes II, III, IV and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for benzalkonium chloride (BAC), chlorpropham, didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), flutriafol, metazachlor, nicotine, profenofos, quizalofop-P, sodium aluminium silicate, thiabendazole and triadimenol in or on certain products
Update
The EU has established MRLs for sodium aluminium silicate on all products at 0.01 mg/kg, the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods).
What is changing?
The MRLs for sodium aluminium silicate are set at the LOD of 0.01 mg/kg on all products, in line with recent Decisions aiming to reduce aluminium intake (e.g. restriction of uses as a food additive), and in recognition of the toxicity of aluminium (EFSA, 2020).
Why?
The approval of sodium aluminium silicate as a plant protection product in the EU expired on 31 August 2019. Sodium aluminium silicate was temporarily included in Annex IV of Regulation 396/2005, as a substance that does not require an MRL. A complete toxicological data set for the substance is not available. Because the presence of sodium aluminium silicate could contribute to overall dietary exposure to aluminium (which already exceeds the tolerable weekly intake for a significant part of the European population), MRLs are reduced to the LOD.
Timeline
The new MRLs for sodium aluminium silicate will apply from 14 September 2023.
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
EFSA (2020) Re‐evaluation of sodium aluminium silicate (E 554) and potassium aluminium silicate (E 555) as food additives. EFSA Journal, 18(6): 6152.
Sources
Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/377
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