Maximum residue levels for spirodiclofen
- Food safety
- Pesticide MRLs
Summary
The European Union (EU) is withdrawing its 2024 proposal to amend the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for spirodiclofen. The 2024 proposal has been withdrawn because the European Commission is now proposing a new approach to setting MRLs for pesticides that are not approved in the EU and that are categorised as highly hazardous for public health or the environment, such as spirodiclofen.
EU withdraws proposal to amend spirodiclofen MRLs
Withdrawn Draft Commission Regulation amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue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 European Union (EU) is withdrawing its 2024 proposal to amend the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for spirodiclofen. The 2024 proposal has been withdrawn because the European Commission is now proposing a new approach to setting MRLs for pesticides that are not approved in the EU and that are categorised as highly hazardous for public health or the environment, such as spirodiclofen.
What is changing?
The EU is withdrawing its 2024 proposal regarding spirodiclofen. This proposal was to reduce the MRLs for spirodiclofen on certain products to the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods), except for those products for which MRLs are based on Codex MRLs (CXLs) or import tolerances that have been found to present no health risks for consumers. The European Commission informed the World Trade Organization Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (WTO SPS) Committee about this withdrawal in April 2026 (G/SPS/N/EU/713/Add.1)
Why?
Spirodiclofen is no longer authorised in the EU because the manufacturer has not submitted a new application for approval. In 2024 the European Commission therefore proposed to reduce the MRLs to the LOD, except on certain products for which CXLs and import tolerances are set, and which have been found by EFSA (2021) to present no health risks for consumers.
However, in December 2025 the Commission proposed a new approach to MRLs for pesticides that are not approved in the EU and are categorised as highly hazardous for public health or the environment, reducing the MRLs for these substances on all products to the LOD. Spirodiclofen is categorised by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) as a carcinogen category 1B.
See Simplification of rules on pesticide MRLs and approvals.
Timeline
No timetable has been given for the development of a new MRL proposal for spirodiclofen.
Background
In January 2024, the EU first notified the the WTO SPS Committee (G/SPS/N/EU/713) of its proposal to reduce the MRLs for spirodiclofen on certain products to the LOD. In September 2024, the European Parliament requested the European Commission to present a new proposal setting the MRLs for spirodiclofen on all products to the LOD. See Maximum residue levels for benomyl, carbendazim, thiophanate-methyl, cyproconazole, and spirodiclofen.
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 (2021) Review of the existing maximum residue levels for spirodiclofen according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. EFSA Journal, 19(11): 6908.
Sources
Withdrawn Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for cyproconazole and spirodiclofen in or on certain products
Tables & Figures
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EU withdraws proposal to amend spirodiclofen MRLs
Withdrawn Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for cyproconazole and spirodiclofen in or on certain products
What is changing and why?
The European Union (EU) is withdrawing its 2024 proposal to amend the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for spirodiclofen. That proposal reduced the MRLs to the limit of determination (LOD, the lowest level that can be detected using the most modern and reliable analytical methods), except for those products for which MRLs are based on Codex MRLs (CXLs) or import tolerances that have been found to present no health risks for consumers.
The 2024 proposal has been withdrawn because the European Commission is now proposing a new approach to setting MRLs for pesticides that are not approved in the EU and that are categorised as highly hazardous for public health or the environment, such as spirodiclofen. See Simplification of rules on pesticide MRLs and approvals.
Timeline
No timetable has been given for the development of a new MRL proposal for spirodiclofen.
Tables & Figures
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances shall COLEAD be liable for any loss, damage, liability or expense incurred or suffered that is claimed to have resulted from the use of information available on this website or any link to external sites. The use of the website is at the user’s sole risk and responsibility. This information platform was created and maintained with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents do not, however, reflect the views of the European Union.