Upload
carrington
View
55
Download
4
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Maximum Residue Levels –Why Should You Care?. Cindy Baker Gowan Group March 17, 2010. Definition. MRL = Maximum Residue Level MRL is the maximum residue level legally permitted in or on food or animal feed –it is an enforcement tool for product in trade –in the US called a tolerance - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Citation preview
Maximum Residue Levels –Why Should You Care?
Cindy BakerGowan Group
March 17, 2010
Definition MRL = Maximum Residue Level MRL is the maximum residue level legally permitted in
or on food or animal feed –it is an enforcement tool for product in trade –in the US called a tolerance
MRLs are set for each pesticide on individual commodities or for crop groups
MRLs are set by regulatory authorities – US EPA, PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency -Canada), CODEX, European Union (EU), Japan, Taiwan, etc.
MRLs are generally expressed in mg/kg (ppm) – based on a use pattern and a risk assessment- an exceedance does not equal an unsafe risk
MRLs can be set differently by different regulatory authorities
Why should you care? Because your customers are or will be asking you
more questions about them as they’ve become a bigger focus for growers, shippers, registrants, researchers, etc.
Global trade – 20-30% of US production is exported to about 150 countries. When making spray recommendations, you might not know where the commodity will go and if an MRL is an issue
More countries establishing and enforcing their own regulations –lack of harmonization
Old tolerances are being lost or changed Tolerances for new chemistry not all in place
globally at the time of US registration
Unique challenges for Minor Crops
Perishable commodity Generally higher value Generally fewer products
registered for use Crops grown in close proximity to
each other Crop Groups
What is happening around the World with MRLs United States – Food Quality Protection Act
(FQPA) over 9,000 tolerances reassessed Canada –Default MRL (.1 ppm) going away EU –harmonization –Sept 2008 CODEX –Committee on Pesticide Residues Japan –Positive List -enforcement Taiwan –process-enforcement Australia
Private Regulation Global Gap
Not an MRL per se Certification
Nature’s Choice Not an MRL per se either List of products –red, yellow, green
Food Chain Activity Wal-mart, McDonald’s, Tesco
How do you keep up? Start with the registrant also can check
these websites www.mrldatabase.com www.mrlharmonization.com
Additionally, some time in November, Western Farm Press is planning to offer for CEU credits a MRL class for free so check it out at www.westernfarmpress.com or www.capca.com
What to do if there is no MRL for a product you want to use
Contact the registrant Understand the impact of the use
pattern Understand the requirements of
the country to which you are exporting
Registrant Perspective – what is needed Clear, transparent process around the world Harmonization of data requirements and
review Consideration about what to do with minor
crops Minimize impact of changing processes,
data requirements – transition, consideration of sharing data and data reviews, etc.
Potential Solutions Continue global registration process
and acceptance More acceptance of Codex
tolerances Better communication among all
stakeholders An accepted system that helps to
prevent multiple regulatory and private company standards
Thank You very much for your role in producing the most abundant, safe and affordable food in the world