The new MRLs for chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl were announced on 11 August 2020 and entered into force on 13 November 2020 (Regulation (EC) 2020/1085 and Corrigendum); this means that they can no longer be used after this date.
Operators in ACP countries using these APAs must take note of the change and ensure that alternative control methods are found in time.
NEW CHANGES TO MRLS
On October 28, 2020, the European Commission published two new regulations establishing new MRLs:
– COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2020/1565 AS REGARDS MAXIMUM RESIDUE LEVELS FOR 1,4‐DIAMINOBUTANE, 1-METHYLCYCLOPROPENE, AMMONIUM ACETATE, BIFENAZATE, CHLORANTRANILIPROLE, CHLORMEQUAT, CYPRODINIL, LIMESTONE, MANDIPROPAMID, PEPPER, PYRIDABEN, REPELLANTS: BLOOD MEAL, SEAWEED EXTRACTS AND TRIMETHYLAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE IN OR ON CERTAIN PRODUCTS (entry into force on November 18, 2020)
– COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2020/1566 AS REGARDS MAXIMUM RESIDUE LEVELS FOR BUPIRIMATE, CARFENTRAZONE-ETHYL, ETHIRIMOL, AND PYRIOFENONE IN OR ON CERTAIN PRODUCTS (entry into force on May 17, 2021)
Such changes in MRLs affecting key export vegetable crops in ACP countries are presented in Table 1. For details on all changes, please refer to the full text of the regulations using the links provided above.
EFSA’S DECISIONS ON BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS
Having reviewed the pesticide risk assessment of Bacillus thuringiensis, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has decided not to include three strains in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 (Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. aizawai strain ABTS-1857, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strain SA‐11, Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki strain SA‐122 ). This means that it will be necessary to establish MRLs for these Bacillus strains. The review process and publication date of the new MRLs are not yet known. COLEACP will keep you informed as soon as more details are available.
CHANGES TO MRLS INTRODUCED TO DATE IN 2020
Table 2 presents a review of changes in EU MRLs since early 2020.
Image source: “Banderas Europeas en el Berlaymont (Bruselas)” by Amio Cajander. is marked with CC BY-SA 2.0.
