2008
September 1st
From 1 September 2008, a new unified European Community (EC) regime will set and control pesticide maximum residue levels (MRLs) in all crops and food intended for human consumption. It will cover some 600 active substances and all crops and foodstuffs - or parts thereof - to be used as fresh, processed and/or composite food. It relates to all crops treated with pesticides and grown according to good agricultural practice (GAP). This will be of relevance to all pesticide manufacturers, growers of all crops for human and animal consumption in the UK
The new regulation - which applies directly in UK law - will replace all previous EC Directives. For technical reasons, all existing UK regulations applying to MRLs will be revoked 30 days later.
The new regime has the potential to affect:
- existing approvals which will no longer be supported if residues resulting from use exceed the MRLs coming into force
- applications currently with the Pesticides Safety Directorate
- import tolerances
- future applications
Residue levels generated after 1 September must not exceed the MRLs set by the regulation. A default level of 0.01 milligrams/kilogram MRL will apply to those pesticide/crop combinations for which no specific MRL appears in the annexes to the regulations.
Although it will be possible to continue to submit your application for a new MRL in the normal way, this could lead to a longer wait for approval.
The new regime will not apply to the manufacture of products other than for food, sowing or planting, or approved activities for the testing of active substances.