On February 18, 2021, the European Food Safety Authority issued the reasoned opinion on “Setting of Import Tolerance for Azoxystrobin in Sugar Beet Roots”. The technical report investigates the effect of processing on the nature of azoxystrobin and concludes that the active substance is hydrolytically stable.
The document provides the following observation for consideration:
- The HPLC-MS/MS test method allows to quantify the residues at or above 0.01 mg/kg in the crops assessed (LOQ).
- The available residue trials are sufficient to derive a MRL proposal of 5 mg/kg for sugar beet roots.
- Intended commodities for import are refined sugar and molasses, which are processed commodities. Indicative processing factor for sugar beet roots processed commodities cannot be recommended to be included in Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.
- All animal commodities except milk and poultry commodities, the current EU MRLs were derived from CXLs (e.g. mammalian liver, kidney, edible offal (0.07 mg/kg) and fat (0.05 mg/kg)).
- The toxicological profile of azoxystrobin was assessed in the framework of the EU pesticides and reviewed under Directive 91/414/EEC. Data was sufficient to derive an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 0.2 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day.
The EFSA concluded that the consumer intake of residues of azoxystrobin resulting from the existing uses and the import of commodities resulting from the US authorized use on sugar beet roots is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health.
To view the complete regulation, check out the Food News Monitoring System.