This is the second part of the article on the changes in the MRL standards – if you haven’t seen the first one yet, you can read it in the first part of the article.
Changes in maximum residue levels for 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene and fluopyram in or on certain products are introduced in April, according to Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2640 of 9 October 2024.
At the end of April, the European Union revised the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene (1,4-DMN). This substance is applied post-harvest to prevent sprouting in stored and transported potatoes, thereby preserving their quality for an extended period.
Following a request from the manufacturer, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reviewed data on the use of 1,4-DMN in potatoes. EFSA concluded that increasing the MRL from 15 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg would not pose a risk to consumer health, as the long-term dietary intake remains within the acceptable daily intake (ADI).
Since potatoes and their products are also used as animal feed, it became necessary to reassess residue levels in food products of animal origin. EFSA evaluated the potential residue transfer to animal products and, based on current exposure data, recommended lowering the MRLs for most animal-derived products such as meat, offal, and milk, while proposing higher limits for poultry and eggs.
| Product | Previous MRL (mg/kg) | Applicable MRL (mg/kg) |
| Potatoes | 15 | 20 |
| Most products of animal origin | reduction of existing MRLs | |
| Milk (cattle, sheep, goats, horses, others) | 0,4 – 0,5 | 0,3 |
| Poultry meat fat, edible offal | 0,2 0,6 – 0,7 | 0,3 1,5 |
| Bird eggs | 0,15 | 0,4 |
Effective April 30, the European Union increased the maximum residue limit (MRL) for fluopyram in pumpkin seeds from 0.01 mg/kg to 0.4 mg/kg, based on residue trial data conducted on rapeseed. In line with EU extrapolation guidelines, the findings from these studies were deemed applicable to pumpkin seeds.
On May 12, crucial updates were made to the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the active substance thiacloprid under Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2711 of 22 October 2024.
As a reaction to public health concerns – especially potential endocrine-disrupting effects and threats to pollinators—the MRLs for all food products are being lowered to the limit of quantification (LOQ):
· 0.02 mg/kg for tree nuts, herbs, edible flowers, oilseeds and fruits, and bird eggs;
· 0.05 mg/kg for tea, coffee beans, herbal infusions, cocoa beans, hops, spices, honey, and other apicultural products;
· 0.01 mg/kg for all remaining food items, particularly most products of plant and animal origin
Acetamiprid as active substance belonging to the neonicotinoid group of plant protection products — insecticides that affect the nervous system and are chemically similar to nicotine. It is widely used in agriculture due to its effectiveness against a broad range of sucking and chewing pests.
According to a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessment, many tested agricultural and food products exceeded the acute reference dose (ARfD) for acetamiprid. As a result, EFSA recommended lowering the maximum residue levels (MRLs), a proposal that was then reviewed by EU member states.
Although acetamiprid had previously been approved for use until 2033, France initiated a renewed evaluation of its impact on human health. In 2024, EFSA concluded that current data were insufficient to fully evaluate the risks to consumers and called for more research. Consequently, EFSA proposed reducing both the acceptable daily intake (ADI) and the ARfD from 0.025 mg/kg body weight per day to 0.005 mg/kg.
Following this recommendation, the European Commission adopted Regulation (EU) 2025/158 on January 29, 2025, setting stricter MRLs for various products.
Beginning August 19, the new MRLs will apply to 38 products, including apples, pears, apricots, cherries, peaches, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, currants, tomatoes, sweet peppers, cucumbers, pumpkins, melons, zucchini, watermelons, broccoli, cauliflower, head cabbage, asparagus, and various leafy vegetables.
The most notable changes include lowering the MRL to 0.01 mg/kg for bananas, currants, asparagus, lettuce, endive, chard, and spinach.
By Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/146, adopted on January 29, 2025, the European Union has revised the maximum residue levels (MRLs) for zoxamide, as fungicide, which take effect on August 19. Following a review by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the following updates were recommended:
On August 24, 2025, updated maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the fungicides fenbuconazole and penconazole will take effect, as set out in Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/195, adopted on February 3, 2025.
Penconazole is a triazole-group fungicide commonly used to protect plants from fungal diseases. It is mainly applied in orchards (apple and pear trees) and in vineyards to control powdery mildew on grapes. It is also occasionally used on some vegetables and greenhouse crops.
The recent changes to MRLs for penconazole follow the submission of new data intended to fill information gaps identified during the previous review. Based on this data, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommended:
– increasing the MRLs for pome fruits, plums, blackberries, and raspberries
– lowering the MRLs for apricots, peaches, and grapes
| Product | Current MRL (mg/kg) | Planned MRL (mg/kg) |
| Pome fruits (apples, pears, quinces, medlars, loquats) | 0,01 – 0,15 | 0,3 |
| Apricots | 0,08 | 0,07 |
| Peaches | 0,15 | 0,07 |
| Plums | 0,09 | 0,15 |
| Grapes (table and wine) | 0,5 | 0,4 |
| Blackberries and raspberries | 0,1 | 0,4 |
Fenbuconazole is a fungicide belonging to triazole group—similar to penconazole but with a broader range of activity. It is mainly used to protect cereal crops and less frequently fruit trees. Changes in MRL:
– lowering the MRL to 0.01 mg/kg for: : apricots, plums, grapes (both table and wine), bananas, peppers, cucurbits (such as cucumbers, zucchini, melons, watermelons, etc.), peanuts, certain oilseeds and cereals (sunflower, rapeseed, rye, wheat, barley), products of animal origin (milk, cattle, sheep, goats, horses);
– aligning MRLs with Codex Alimentarius (CXL) standards: reducing MRLs for grapefruit, oranges, and peaches to 0.5 mg/kg an increasing MRL for tea from 0.05 mg/kg to 30 mg/kg
Clothianidin and thiamethoxam are neonicotinoid insecticides that have been linked to pollinator decline, especially among bees. Since pollinators are essential for biodiversity and global food systems, the European Union has taken action to ensure its food supply chain—both domestic and imported— but not contribute to pollinators decline. Therefore, the EU adopted Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/334 of 2 February 2023 amending Annexes II and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for clothianidin and thiamethoxam in or on certain products and set their MRL to the technical detection limit of 0.01 mg/kg.
This is the first time MRLs have been reduced on environmental grounds, rather than purely human health concerns.
The new limits will be in force starting March 2026, giving producers in third countries—especially in developing and least-developed regions—time to adjust to the new standards.
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