On January 27,2021, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a new regulation on pesticides in accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 to set “Import tolerances for the active substance Metiram in various crops.”
The regulation highlights use levels of pesticides on crops as follows:
- Setting the import tolerance requirements applicable in Fruits such as passion fruits/maracujas, pineapples and to modify the existing maximum residue level (MRL) in Celeriacs on the basis of intended northern Europe (NEU) use.
- MRL’s for Celeriacs could not be achieved due to inadequate data information.
- Consumer exposure calculation which considered only metiram uses, indicated no long-term consumer health concerns, but is affected by several uncertainties related to the lack of residue data reflecting the existing uses of Metiram.
- The contribution of residues in the crops under consideration to the long-term consumer exposure is low.
- The consumer exposure to Ethylene thiourea (ETU) residues from the existing and intended metiram uses indicated no consumer intake concerns. However, the risk assessment is affected by a number of uncertainties that could not be addressed with the currently available data.
- Article 12 MRL review provides comprehensive consumer exposure to ETU residues considering the existing uses of Dithiocarbamates that are known to degrade to ETU in processed products.
The EFSA draws conclusions on uncertainties in the risk assessment. Plus, further risk management discussions are required on whether a modification of existing dithiocarbamate MRLs is justified prior to the finalization of the MRL review on Metiram and other Dithiocarbamates.
Check out the complete assessment report on the Food News Monitoring System.