The European Union has announced the amendment of maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticide residues in a number of different products.
Inspection and certification group SGS reported that, in January, the EU announced four Commission regulations amending Annexes II, III and V of Directive 2005/396/EC of the European Parliament, and of the Council, with regard to maximum residue levels for pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin.
Amendments include changes to MRLs for chlorpyrifos in mandarins, apples, pears, peaches, table grapes, blackberries, raspberries, currants, gooseberries, kiwifruit, pineapples, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, melons, watermelons, whole cabbage, chinese cabbage, globe artichokes, leek and sugarbeets, which will be applied from 10 August this year.
The changes mean that EU member states can take and analyse samples for the pesticide/product combinations and the number of samples of each product, including foods for infants and small children and products originating from organic farming, SGS noted.
