Setting of import tolerances for metalaxyl-M in oil palms fruits and peppercorn.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Syngenta Crop Protection AG submitted a request to the competent national authority in Belgium to set an import tolerance for the active substance metalaxyl-M in oil palms fruits and peppercorn (black, green and white). The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposals for oil palms fruits and peppercorn. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of metalaxyl-M in the commodities under consideration at the validated limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.01 mg/kg. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short-term and long-term intake of residues resulting from the use of metalaxyl-M according to the authorised agricultural practices is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health.

Review of the existing maximum residue levels for spirodiclofen according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance spirodiclofen. Although this active substance is no longer authorised within the European Union, MRLs were established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (codex maximum residue limits; CXLs) and import tolerances were reported by Member States (including the supporting residues data). Based on the assessment of the available data, EFSA assessed the CXLs and import tolerances requested, and a consumer risk assessment was carried out. Although no apparent risk to consumers was identified, as spirodiclofen is classified as carcinogenic 1B with threshold, all MRL proposals derived by EFSA still require further consideration by risk managers.

Setting of import tolerances for azoxystrobin in mangoes and oil palm fruits.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Syngenta Crop Protection AG submitted a request to the competent national authority in Austria to set an import tolerance for the active substance azoxystrobin in mangoes and oil palm fruits imported from Brazil and Colombia, respectively. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive maximum residue level (MRL) proposals for mangoes and oil palm fruits. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of azoxystrobin on the commodities under consideration at the validated limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.01 mg/kg. Based on the risk assessment results, noting that an acute risk assessment was not deemed necessary for azoxystrobin, EFSA concluded that the long-term intake of residues resulting from the uses of azoxystrobin according to the reported agricultural practices is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health.

Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for sodium 5-nitroguaiacolate, sodium o-nitrophenolate and sodium p-nitrophenolate (sodium nitrocompounds) in table olives and olives for oil production.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Asahi Chemical Europe s.r.o. submitted a request to the competent national authority in Greece to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substances sodium 5-nitroguaiacolate (Na 5-NG), sodium o-nitrophenolate (Na o-NP) and sodium p-nitrophenolate (Na p-NP) in table olives and olives for oil production in support of the intended SEU use. The data submitted in support of this MRL application were sufficient to derive an MRL of 0.12 mg/kg (at the combined limit of quantification (LOQ) of the three sodium nitrocompounds as validated in the framework of the residue trials). This higher MRL does not reflect residues in olives from the intended use but refers to occurrence of p-nitrophenolate (p-NP) from unidentified source. As p-NP was present in all untreated olive samples regardless of the country of origin and the year of the treatment, in some cases at levels above the enforcement LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg, the applicant analysed residue trial samples using a method with a higher validated LOQ of 0.1 mg/kg for Na p-NP. The competent authorities shall be aware that residues of p-NP at levels < 0.1 mg/kg in olives are not related to the use of sodium nitrocompounds on the crop but to other sources of unknown origin. The current analytical methods for enforcement control residues of sodium nitrocompounds in high oil content matrices at the validated LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg per substance (combined LOQ of 0.03 mg/kg). Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concluded that the short-term and long-term intake of residues resulting from the use of sodium nitrocompounds according to the reported agricultural practice and occurrence of p-NP from unidentified source is unlikely to present a risk to consumer health.