Pesticides not requiring maximum residue levels
- Food safety
- Pesticide MRLs
Summary
The use of certain pesticides does not lead to residues that pose a risk to consumers. These pesticides do not require maximum residue levels (MRLs) and are listed in Regulation 396/2005, Annex IV. The European Union (EU) has added Betabaculovirus phoperculellae and elemental iron to this list, and has confirmed that rape seed oil should remain on the list.
In a draft Regulation, the European Commission also proposes to add the following five substances to Annex IV:
- Allium fistulosum, processed
- lysate of Willaertia magna
- magnesium hydroxide E528
- Onobrychis viciifolia (sainfoin) dried pellets
- Vitis vinifera seed extract (grape seed extract).
EU decides no MRLs required for Betabaculovirus phoperculellae, elemental iron, and rape seed oil
Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/2473 of 5 December 2025 amending Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for Betabaculovirus phoperculellae, elemental iron and rape seed oil in or on certain products
Draft Commission Regulation amending Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for Allium fistulosum, processed; lysate of Willaertia magna; magnesium hydroxide E528; Onobrychis viciifolia (sainfoin) dried pellets and Vitis vinifera L. seed extract (grape seed extract) in or on certain products
Update
The use of certain pesticides does not lead to residues that pose a risk to consumers. These pesticides do not require maximum residue levels (MRLs) and are listed in Regulation 396/2005, Annex IV. The European Union (EU) has added Betabaculovirus phoperculellae and elemental iron to this list, and has confirmed that rape seed oil should remain on the list.
In a draft Regulation, the European Commission also proposes to add the following five substances to Annex IV:
- Allium fistulosum, processed
- lysate of Willaertia magna
- magnesium hydroxide E528
- Onobrychis viciifolia (sainfoin) dried pellets
- Vitis vinifera seed extract (grape seed extract).
Impacted Products
All
What is changing?
The EU has added Betabaculovirus phoperculellae and elemental iron to the list of pesticides that do not require MRLs (listed in Regulation 396/2005, Annex IV). Rape seed oil was already included in the list on a temporary basis, and is now confirmed.
The European Commission has also submitted a Draft Regulation proposing to add the following substances to Annex IV:
- Allium fistulosum, processed
- lysate of Willaertia magna
- magnesium hydroxide E528
- Onobrychis viciifolia (sainfoin) dried pellets
- Vitis vinifera seed extract (grape seed extract).
The MRLs for these five substances are currently set at the default value of 0.01 mg/kg on all products.
Why?
The European Commission has established that the use of these substances is not expected to lead to residues that are a risk to consumers. This follows a risk assessment of lysate of Willaertia magna by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA 2025). Betabaculovirus phoperculellae and elemental iron have been approved as low-risk substances in Regulations 2025/103 and 2025/845, respectively.
Timeline
The Regulation on Betabaculovirus phoperculellae, elemental iron, and rape seed oil applies from 28 December 2025.
The draft Regulation on five additional substances is expected to be published in January 2026, and will apply 20 days after publication.
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.
The European Commission has developed Guidance setting out the criteria for the inclusion of active substances in Annex IV of Regulation 396/2005.
For further information on the EU’s process and principles for setting MRLs, see Regulation of pesticide residues in the EU – Questions and Answers.
Resources
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/103 approving the active substance Betabaculovirus phoperculellae as a low-risk active substance
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/845 approving the active substance elemental iron as a low-risk active substance
EFSA (2025) Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance lysate of Willaertia magna C2c Maky. EFSA Journal, 23(1): e9194.
European Commission (2015) Guidance document on criteria for the inclusion of active substances into Annex IV of Regulation (EC) N° 396/2005
Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin
Sources
Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/2473 as regards maximum residue levels for Betabaculovirus phoperculellae, elemental iron and rape seed oil in or on certain products
Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for Allium fistulosum, processed; lysate of Willaertia magna; magnesium hydroxide E528; Onobrychis viciifolia (sainfoin) dried pellets and Vitis vinifera L. seed extract (grape seed extract) in or on certain products
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.
EU decides no MRLs required for Betabaculovirus phoperculellae, elemental iron, and rape seed oil
Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/2473 as regards maximum residue levels for Betabaculovirus phoperculellae, elemental iron and rape seed oil in or on certain products
Draft Commission Regulation as regards maximum residue levels for Allium fistulosum, processed; lysate of Willaertia magna; magnesium hydroxide E528; Onobrychis viciifolia (sainfoin) dried pellets and Vitis vinifera L. seed extract (grape seed extract) in or on certain products
What is changing and why?
Certain pesticides do not require maximum residue levels (MRLs) because their use does not lead to residues that pose a risk to consumers. The European Union (EU) has added Betabaculovirus phoperculellae and elemental iron to the list of pesticides that do not require MRLs, and has confirmed that rape seed oil will remain in that list.
The European Commission has also proposed a draft Regulation adding the following five substances to the list of pesticides that do not require MRLs:
- Allium fistulosum, processed
- lysate of Willaertia magna
- magnesium hydroxide E528
- Onobrychis viciifolia (sainfoin) dried pellets
- Vitis vinifera seed extract (grape seed extract).
Timeline
The Regulation on Betabaculovirus phoperculellae, elemental iron, and rape seed oil applies from 28 December 2025.
The draft Regulation on five additional substances is expected to be published in January 2026, and will apply 20 days after publication.
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.