EU and GB MRL changes in 2022

In this Flash Info, ‘key active substances’ refers to those used/registered in one or more ACP country on horticultural crops that are frequently exported regionally or internationally. While COLEACP makes every effort to provide comprehensive information about relevant regulatory changes, it is possible that some PPPs or crops relevant to you are not included in our list of key substances/crops. We recommend therefore that you check the final section of this FlashInfo, which details all the changes in 2022, to make sure that you are aware of any other changes that could affect you.

Changes to EU MRLs

 Flutianil

The European Commission (EC) recently issued a notification of changes to flutianil MRLs within the EU. Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/566 was applied on 28 April 2022 and includes changes to MRLs on a number of fruit and vegetable crops(Table 1).

Table 1. EU MRL changes for flutianil on fruit and vegetables.

Changes to GB MRLs

In may 2022, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued notifications of changes to sulfoxaflor, cyantraniliprole and cinmethylin MRLs within Great Britan. Sulfoxaflor and cyantraniliprole are key substances for ACP horticulture (Table 2).

Table 2. Great Britain (GB) maximum residue level (MRL) changes in 2022 indicating the key substances and crops most affected

Further Proposed MRL changes

A further 20 proposed (draft) MRL changes have recently been notified to the WTO (Table 3 ), 12 of which are key for ACP horticulture (chlorothalonil, cyfluthrin, ethoprophos, fenamidone, propiconazole, pymetrozine, benalaxyl, epoxiconazole, fenamiphos, clothianidin, thiamethoxam and abamectin).

Table 3. World Trade Organization (WTO) notifications of new draft regulations amending MRLs of substances, potentially affecting ACP horticulture products.

*Key active substances are those used/registered in one or more ACP country on horticultural crops that are frequently exported regionally or internationally.

All draft regulations on MRL changes are notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO) under the WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary Information Management System for a commenting period of 60 days. This obligation applies to all member countries of the WTO, as the lowering of MRLs might lead to trade barriers. This is an opportunity to be informed in advance of proposed changes, and to take any necessary action before the new regulation comes into force. It is also an opportunity to submit concerns about potential difficulties (trade barriers) that these changes could create. WTO member countries can submit comments via their WTO National Contact Point.

All MRL changes that have so far entered into force in 2022

Table 4 shows all new MRLs that have entered into force in 2022. If any PPP that you use on crops for export to the EU or GB is listed here, we recommend that you check the regulation itself using the link provided. If you require additional information, or face particular problems as a result of these changes, please contact COLEACP at: network@coleacp.org.

Table 4. European Union (EU) and Great Britain (GB) maximum residue level (MRL) changes introduced to date and entering into force in 2022.

*Key active substances are those used/registered in one or more ACP country on horticultural crops that are frequently exported regionally or internationally.