Amendment to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on certain products
The European Parliament has objected to a draft regulation that would set maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the pesticide cyproconazole in food products. The Parliament believes the proposed levels are not sufficiently protective of human health and create unfair competition for EU farmers. This objection primarily affects farmers within the EU, who must adhere to stricter standards, and potentially consumers if imported products contain higher residue levels. It also impacts producers in third countries who export food to the EU. The core issue is that the approval for cyproconazole, classified as toxic for reproduction, expired in the EU in 2021, and its use is banned. The draft regulation proposed maintaining higher MRLs for certain products based on international standards (Codex Alimentarius), which the Parliament argues undermines EU health and safety rules. The Parliament calls for all MRLs for cyproconazole to be lowered to the default limit of 0.01 mg/kg, aligning with the ban on its use within the EU. It urges the Commission to withdraw the draft and propose new rules that adhere to the precautionary principle and protect consumer health.
Analysis
The European Parliament opposes the adoption of the draft Commission regulation concerning maximum residue levels for cyproconazole and spirodiclofen.
What changes
- The European Parliament objects to the adoption of a draft Commission regulation that would amend Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 regarding maximum residue levels for cyproconazole and spirodiclofen.
- The European Parliament calls for the withdrawal of the current draft regulation and the submission of a new one that lowers MRLs for cyproconazole to the limit of determination or 0.01 mg/kg and refuses import tolerances.
Expected impact
- The draft Commission regulation is considered incompatible with Union law, specifically Regulations (EC) No 396/2005, (EC) No 178/2002, and (EC) No 1107/2009.
- The European Parliament calls for the application of the precautionary principle in relation to the draft Commission regulation.
- The European Parliament requests that MRLs for cyproconazole be lowered to the limit of determination or the default value of 0.01 mg/kg, and that import tolerances be refused.
Limitations
- The document is a resolution of the European Parliament and does not contain the full text of the draft Commission regulation it is objecting to, limiting the ability to analyze specific changes to Annexes II and III.
- Specific details regarding the proposed MRLs for spirodiclofen are not elaborated upon in the text, only mentioned in conjunction with cyproconazole.
- The document does not provide the outcome of the Commission's consideration of the Parliament's objection, only the Parliament's stance.
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