Maximum residue levels for spirodiclofen

Draft Commission Regulation 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 cyproconazole and spirodiclofen in or on certain products

Update

The EU has informed the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee that it intends to amend the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for spirodiclofen (G/SPS/N/EU/713). It proposes to reduce the MRLs to the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods). This will apply to all products except those with MRLs based on Codex MRLs (CXLs) or import tolerances, which are considered safe. The most significant impacts will potentially be on exports of certain berries and bananas.

Impacted Products

Grapefruits, oranges, lemons, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, chestnuts, macadamias, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, table grapes, cranberries, gooseberries, rose hips, mulberries, azaroles, elderberries, avocados, mangoes, papayas, bananas, cucumbers, gherkins

What is changing?

The EU proposes to amend the MRLs for spirodiclofen as summarised in Table 1.

Additionally, the LOD will be lowered from 0.02 to 0.01 mg/kg on all products except herbs and edible flowers, teas, coffee beans, herbal infusions, cocoa bean, carobs, spices, liver, kidney, and edible offals.

Why?

Spirodiclofen is no longer authorised in the EU because the manufacturer has not submitted a new application for approval. Therefore all MRLs should be set at the LOD.

However, some products for which CXLs and import tolerances are set have been reviewed by EFSA (2021), who concluded that they present no health risks for the consumer.

Timeline

Expected date of adoption: August 2024.

Expected date of entry into force: October 2024.

The new MRLs will apply from approximately April 2025 – the precise date will be known once the Regulation is published.

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.

Recommended Actions

Exporters of certain berries and bananas should review their current use of spirodiclofen and evaluate possible alternative solutions in anticipation of MRL changes. Exporters of certain citrus fruits, almonds, avocados, mangoes, papayas, cucumbers, and gherkins 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

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Regulation

Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for cyproconazole and spirodiclofen in or on certain products

What is changing and why?

The pesticide spirodiclofen is no longer approved in the EU because the manufacturer has not submitted a new application for approval. Therefore the European Commission proposes to reduce the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for this substance to the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods). This will apply to all products except those for which MRLs are based on Codex MRLs (CXLs) or import tolerances, which have been reviewed by EFSA (2021) and found to present no health risks for the consumer. The changes are set out in Table 1.

Actions

Exporters of bananas and those berries listed in Table 1 should explore alternative solutions to their current use of spirodiclofen. Exporters of certain citrus fruits, almonds, avocados, mangoes, and papayas should assess whether current agricultural practices can comply with the proposed reduced MRLs.

Timeline

The new MRLs will apply from approximately April 2025 – the precise date will be known once the Regulation is published.

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