Maximum residue levels for quizalofop
- Food safety
- Pesticide MRLs
Summary
The European Union (EU) is discussing new proposals to reduce the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for quizalofop on various salads and herbal infusions, and to increase the MRLs on sunflower seeds and soyabeans. This may have a critical impact on trade in chards/beet leaves and herbal infusions, as 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).
EU discusses reducing quizalofop MRLs on salads and herbal infusions, and increasing MRLs on sunflower seeds and soyabeans
Draft Commission Regulation (EU) 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 carbofuran, imazalil, mandipropamid, propaquizafop, quizalofop-P-ethyl and quizalofop-P-tefuryl in or on certain products
Draft Annex II
Update
The European Union (EU) is discussing new proposals to reduce the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for quizalofop on various salads and herbal infusions, and to increase the MRLs on sunflower seeds and soyabeans. This may have a critical impact on trade in chards/beet leaves and herbal infusions, as 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).
Impacted Products
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, other lettuces, spinaches, chards/beet leaves, sunflower seeds, soyabeans, herbal infusions: chamomile, hibiscus/roselle, rose, jasmine, lime/linden, other flower infusions, strawberry, rooibos, mate/maté, other leaves/herb infusions, valerian, ginseng, other root infusions
What is changing?
The EU is discussing changes to the MRLs for quizalofop as summarised in Table 1.
Why?
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA 2017) concluded that there was insufficient information for various products to maintain current MRLs. Following a review of data submitted to address those data gaps, and a request to modify certain products, EFSA (2024) supported new MRLs for sunflower seeds and soyabeans. Data gaps for lettuces, salads, and spinaches were not addressed, so revised MRLs are proposed on the basis of good agricultural practices (GAPs). For charts/beet leaves and herbal infusions, data gaps concerning storage stability and analytical methods were not addressed, so MRLs at the LOD are recommended.
Timeline
The MRLs under discussion are expected to apply from late 2027.
Recommended Actions
To ensure compliance with the new MRLs, suppliers of chards/beet leaves, herbal infusions, and salads should review their use of quizalofop and assess where changes will be needed to existing GAPs, or where alternative chemical and non-chemical solutions to the use of quizalofop are needed.
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 (2017) Reasoned opinion: Review of the existing maximum residue levels for quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl and propaquizafop according to article 12 of regulation (EC) No 396/2005. EFSA Journal, 15(12): e05050.
EFSA (2024) Reasoned opinion: Evaluation of confirmatory data following the Article 12 MRL review for quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl and propaquizafop and modification of the existing maximum residue levels for quizalofop-P-tefuryl. EFSA Journal, 22(2): e8560.
Sources
Draft Commission Regulation (EU) as regards maximum residue levels for carbofuran, imazalil, mandipropamid, propaquizafop, quizalofop-P-ethyl and quizalofop-P-tefuryl in or on certain products
Draft Annex II
Tables & Figures
Source: based on Draft Annex PLAN/2025/2832
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EU discusses reducing quizalofop MRLs on salads and herbal infusions, and increasing MRLs on sunflower seeds and soyabeans
Draft Commission Regulation (EU) as regards maximum residue levels for carbofuran, imazalil, mandipropamid, propaquizafop, quizalofop-P-ethyl and quizalofop-P-tefuryl in or on certain products
Draft Annex II
What is changing and why?
The European Union (EU) is discussing changes to the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for quizalofop as summarised in Table 1.
Actions
To ensure compliance with the new MRLs, suppliers of chards/beet leaves, herbal infusions, and salads should review their use of quizalofop and assess where changes will be needed to existing GAPs, or where alternative chemical and non-chemical solutions to the use of quizalofop are needed.
Timeline
The MRLs under discussion are expected to apply from late 2027.
Tables & Figures
Source: based on Draft Annex PLAN/2025/2832
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.