This is the second part of the article on the changes in the MRL standards – if you haven’t seen the first one yet, you can read it in the first part of the article.
1,4-dimethylnaphthalene and fluopyram
According to Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2640 of 9 October 2024, there have been changes since April with regard to maximum residue levels for 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene and fluopyram in or on certain products.
1,4-dimethylnaphthalene
At the end of April, the European Union introduced changes to the maximum residue levels for 1,4-DMN. This substance is used post-harvest to prevent potatoes from sprouting during storage and transport, thus maintaining tuber quality for longer.
At the manufacturer’s request, EFSA analyzed data on the use of 1,4-DMN on potatoes and concluded that the proposed increase in the MRL from 15 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg does not pose a risk to consumer health. The risk assessment showed that the long-term intake of 1,4-DMN residues does not exceed the acceptable daily intake (ADI).
However, it proved necessary to adjust the MRL for products of animal origin, due to the fact that potatoes and their preparations are used as animal feed. EFSA evaluated the impact of residues of this active substance on products of animal origin. As a result of the evaluation, it proposed lowering the MRL for most animal origin products, such as meat, offal and milk, and increasing the limit for poultry and eggs to reflect current animal exposure data.
| Product | Previous MRL (mg/kg) | Applicable MRL (mg/kg) |
| Potatoes | 15 | 20 |
| Most products of animal origin | reduction of existing MRLs | |
| Milk (cattle, sheep, goats, horses, others) | 0,4 – 0,5 | 0,3 |
Poultry
|
0,2 0,6 – 0,7 |
0,3 1,5 |
| Bird eggs | 0,15 | 0,4 |
Fluopyram
As of April 30, the European Union increased the maximum residue limit for fluopyram in pumpkin seeds from 0.01 mg/kg to 0.4 mg/kg.
This decision was based on data from residue tests conducted on rapeseed. In accordance with EU guidelines for extrapolation of data, the results of these studies were considered representative of pumpkin seeds.
Thiacloprid
On May 12, significant changes were made to the maximum residue levels for the active substance thiacloprid under Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2711 of 22 October 2024.
- In response to public health concerns-including potential endocrine effects and risks to pollinators the MRLs for all food products will be reduced to the limit of quantification (LOQ):MRL 0.02 mg/kg – tree nuts, herbs, edible flowers, oil seeds and fruits, bird eggs;
- MRL 0.05 mg/kg – teas, coffee beans, herbal infusions, cocoa beans, hops, spices, honey and other apicultural products;
MRL 0.01 mg/kg – for all other products (not listed above), in particular the majority of plant and animal origin products.Acetamiprid
Acetamiprid is an active substance of plant protection products from the neonicotinoid group – modern neuroactive insecticides chemically related to nicotine. Due to its efficacy against many sucking and chewing pests, it is widely used in crop protection.
The EFSA opinion showed that in many tested agricultural and food products, the acute reference doses (ARfD) for acetamiprid were exceeded. In response, EFSA recommended tightening the maximum residue levels for acetamiprid, which was subject to consultation with EU member states.
Already after the approval issued by 2033, at the initiative of France, EFSA reopened its analysis of acetamiprid for human health effects. In a statement published in 2024, EFSA concluded that the available data did not fully assess the risk to the consumer and pointed to the need for additional studies. Based on this EFSA proposed lowering both the acceptable daily intake (ADI) and the acute reference dose (ARfD) from the previous 0.025 mg/kg bw/day to 0.005 mg/kg bw/day. Following EFSA’s opinion, the European Commission adopted Regulation (EU) 2025/158 on 29 January 2025, establishinglower MRLs for a number of products.
Starting August 19, MRLs will be lowered for 38 products, including apples, pears, apricots, cherries, peaches, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, currants, tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumbers, pumpkins, melons, zucchini, watermelons, broccoli, cauliflower, head cabbage, asparagus and various leafy vegetables.
The most significant MRL changesfor acetamiprid include a reduction to 0.01 mg/kg for: bananas, currants, asparagus, lettuce, endive, chard and spinach.
Zoxamide
Under Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/146 of 29 January 2025, the European Union is amending the maximum residue limits for zoxamide, an active substance used as a fungicide, effective August 19. EFSA reviewed the existing limits for zoxamide and recommended:
- lowering the MRL to the limit of quantification (0.01 mg/kg) for most products, including: fruits (citrus, pome and stone fruits), vegetables ((root, bulb, brassica, leafy, leguminous and stem), mushrooms, nuts, oilseeds and oil fruits, cereals, teas;
- raising the MRLs for tomatoes (2 mg/kg), eggplant (0.5 mg/kg), honey and other apicultural products (0.2 mg/kg);
- setting import tolerances at 0.7 mg/kg for garlic, onions and shallots.
Fenbuconazole and penconazole
On August 24 of this year, revised MRLs for fenbuconazole and penconazole residues in a number of food products will come into force (Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/195 of 3 February 2025).
Penconazole
Penconazole is a fungicide of the triazole group, used in the protection of plants against fungal diseases. It is primarily applied in the protection of orchard crops (apple and pear trees) and vineyards (to control powdery mildew in grapevines). It is also occasionally used in the cultivation of certain vegetables and greenhouse crops.
The changes of maximum residue levels for penconazole are the result of additional data provided to address gaps identified during the last MRL review. Based on the submitted data, EFSA decided to increase the existing limits for pome fruit, plums, and blackberries and raspberries. On the other hand, MRLs for apricots, peaches, and grapes were lowered to safe levels established on the basis of the new residue trials.
| Product | Current MRL (mg/kg) | Planned MRL (mg/kg) |
| Pome fruits (apples, pears, quinces, medlars, loquats and Japanese medlars) | 0,01 – 0,15 | 0,3 |
| Apricots | 0,08 | 0,07 |
| Peaches | 0,15 | 0,07 |
| Plums | 0,09 | 0,15 |
| Grapes (table and wine) | 0,5 | 0,4 |
| Blackberries and raspberries | 0,1 | 0,4 |
Fenbuconazole
Fenbuconazole is the triazole group fungicide (similar to penconazole, but with a broader spectrum of activity), mainly used for the protectionof cereal crops, and less frequently in the protection of fruit trees.
- The key planned changes include:reduce the MRL to 0.01 mg/kg for: apricots, plums, grapes (both table and wine), bananas, peppers, cucurbits (such as cucumbers, zucchini, melons, watermelons, etc.), peanuts, certain oilseeds and cereals (sunflower, rapeseed, rye, wheat, barley), products of animal origin (milk, cattle, sheep, goats, horses);
- adjustment to Codex Alimentarius CXL levels for: grapefruit, oranges and peaches (reduction the MRL to 0.5 mg/kg), as well as for tea (raising the limit from 0.05 to 30 mg/kg).
Clothianidin and thiamethoxam
Insect decline is a global phenomenon caused by multiple factors, one of which is the use of pesticides. In particular, the neonicotinoid group has been identified as posing a threat to bees.Since pollinators play a key role in supporting ecosystems and global food production, food and feed consumed in the EU should not contribute to the global decline of pollinators – regardless of whether these products are produced within the Union or imported from third countries.
For this reason, Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/334 of 2 February 2023 amending Annexes II and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for clothianidin and thiamethoxam in or on certain products was adopted. The regulation lowers the maximum residue levels for these two neonicotinoids to the technical zero level of 0.01 mg/kg.
For the first time, the regulation lowering MRLs is based on environmental grounds. The new limits will apply from March 2026 to allow operators from third countries, particularly developing and least-developed countries, sufficient time to adapt to the new requirements.
We will soon publish the third and final part of the series.
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