Amendment to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on certain products
The European Parliament has objected to a draft regulation that would have set maximum residue levels (MRLs) for certain pesticides, carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl, in food products imported into the EU. This decision primarily affects EU farmers, who would face unfair competition from imports treated with these substances, and consumers, whose health could be at risk from higher residue levels. The Parliament argues that maintaining these MRLs for imported goods contradicts EU standards, as carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl are banned or restricted in the EU due to health concerns, including mutagenicity and reproductive toxicity. The Parliament calls for these MRLs to be lowered to the minimum detectable level and for no import tolerances to be granted for these substances, demanding a new draft regulation from the Commission.
Analysis
The European Parliament opposes the adoption of the draft Commission regulation concerning maximum residue levels for benomyl, carbendazim, and thiophanate-methyl.
What changes
- It is proposed to delete existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for carbendazim in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.
- The draft regulation proposes maintaining import tolerances for carbendazim above the limit of determination for specific uses in lemons, limes, mandarins, and okra.
- It is proposed to delete existing MRLs for thiophanate-methyl in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.
Expected impact
- The proposed MRLs are considered incompatible with Regulations (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 178/2002, and (EC) No 1107/2009.
- Maintaining import tolerances for carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl creates a competitive disadvantage for Union farmers compared to farmers in third countries.
- The use of carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl jeopardises the health of agricultural workers and the general population in producing countries.
Limitations
- The document is a resolution opposing a draft regulation and does not contain the full text of the draft regulation itself.
- Specific details on the 'limit of determination' for carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl are not provided in the text.
- The exact quantities of proposed import tolerances for carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl, beyond the values for specific products, are not fully detailed.
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