Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for residues of pesticides

Pesticides are used to protect crops from damage due to for example insects, fungi, bacteria, or weeds. It is estimated that about 1100 chemicals have been developed or isolated to be used as pesticides. Not all are still used however, as some are banned or obsolete.
The use of pesticides  may result in residues on crop commodities. To protect the health of the consumer maximum residue limits are set. Generally, not only safety concerns play a role however. When using a pesticide according to ‘Good Agricultural Pratice’ leads to lower residue levels, these levels are used to set MRLs.

According to the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPM) and Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade food safety standards for pesticide residues established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission are the reference points in international trade. Thus far, Codex established MRLs for about 225 pesticides (and for numerous pesticide/commodity combinations). Once accepted member states of Codex are expected to implement these MRLs in national (or community) law. Deviations from Codex MRLs are possible but have to be substantiated with scientific proof of risk.

A lot of countries refer to Codex for the MRLs of pesticides (see http://www.fas.usda.gov/htp/mrl.asp ). The number of chemicals with Codex MRLs is however limited, the European Community (EC) for instance established pesticide MRLs for about 500 specific pesticides, and a default MRL of 0.01 mg/kg was established for all pesticides not mentioned by name in the EC Regulations. Achieving globally harmonized MRLs via Codex is an ongoing process.

MRLs for residues of pesticides in food products in the EU

In the past, members of the European Union all had their own maximum residue limits (MRLs) for residues of pesticides in food. Because this frequently led to trade problems between member states, harmonization of MRLs was started in the 70s. Four EU Directives regulate this harmonization. The first one was Directive 76/895/EEC (with optional MRL values for some pesticides in fruits and vegetables), later followed by 86/362/EEC (cereals), 86/363/EEC (animal products), 90/642/EEC (plant products). For more than 200 active substances EU-MRLs were contained in these Directives.

In 2005 the Council and Parliament adopted Residue Regulation (EC) 396/2005. This regulation superseded all previous EU and national legislation on MRLs for residues of pesticides as of September 1 2008. MRLs are set only at the EU level (like for residues of veterinary drugs). The first annex of  this Regulation (the amendment EC/178/2006) contains a list of products for which the MRLs are established. For products not listed in this annex (like some feed products) MRLs will not apply. For all substances for which no specific MRLs are established, a default MRL of 0,01 mg/kg is the legal limit (see also http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/pesticides/index_en.htm ).

In the second annex of  (EC) 396/2005  contains the harmonized EC MRLs (those that were listed in the four directives). In the third annex temporary EC MRLs are listed for all substances and/or substance/crop combinations that were not harmonized thus far. The fourth annex contains a list of substances for which no MRLs are needed.

There now is a database in which the EU MRLs for residues of pesticides can be found: http://ec.europa.eu/food/plant/protection/pesticides/database_pesticide_en.htm

EU-MRLs for pesticide residues in processed foods for infants and young children

To protect the very young in processed foods for infants and young children separate EU-MRLs were established via Directive 91/321/EEC and 96/5/EC and amendments.