New proposals have been adopted by the European Commission, which aim to harmonise maximum residue levels at a European standard.

The regulations, if enforced, would result in all MRLs for plant protection products being harmonised after a transitional phase-in period to a set European standard. This would remove the current existing inconsistencies whereby individual member states can set their own national MRLs.

Currently at draft stage, the long awaited proposals have been welcomed by many throughout the industry. The Fresh Produce Consortium's chief executive Doug Henderson confirmed: 'We are very supportive of the move towards harmonising MRLs across Europe. It will create a much-needed level playing field for produce and the end result will be that trading is made much easier.' Adding that the regulations would serve to 'eliminate current anomalies' Henderson cited European pear production as a pertinent example of current irregularities within the system. He added: 'We have been campaigning for this for years.' Health commissioner David Byrne also believes the move is a breakthrough. 'After 27 years of piecemeal legislation at the EU and national level, this regulation sets out a harmonised framework for maximum residue levels of pesticides,' he said. 'It will provide significant protection to consumers across Europe.' As well as consolidating and simplifying existing legislation, the regulation will define the roles of those involved in setting MRLs. The European Food Safety Authority launched last year will assume responsibility for risk assessment and the Commission will provide risk management by setting MRLs taking into account EFSA's opinions. The Commission already has an annual residues monitoring programme which will be able to pass additional data to EFSA for risk assessment. The draft regulation drawn up by the Commission now needs to pass to the European Parliament and Council. Then EU trade partners at the WTO and in the Cotonou agreement with African-Caribbean-Pacific countries will also have to be notified. A likely timetable for the regulation to come into force is January 2005.

On the likely date of implementation, Henderson explained: 'On July 25 1993, under the authority of Council Directive 91/414/EEC, the EU initiated a 10 year programme to review and harmonise all the 823 active ingredients that were approved for use in the EU at that time. In parallel with this a programme was initiated to establish harmonised MRLs for all the 126 products or groups of products identified in the regulations.' 'The anticipated outcomes from this review process were to be: an EU list of active ingredients whose approvals for use had all been rigorously reviewed; and an EU list of maximum residue levels that would enable products that had either been grown within or imported into the EU to be traded and sold.' 'This EU review process will bring about harmonisation and that takes affect from July 25 this year.' In addition, Henderson warned: 'Today the UK is no longer self-sufficient in fruit and vegetables. We import 90 per cent of the fruit and 29 per cent of the vegetables we consume. To fully understand the impact of the review programme it is important to examine how the loss of pesticides will affect our overseas supply base.'