U.S. growers often export their commodities to other countries. There are many national authorities that rely on Codex maximum residue limits (MRLs) for a pesticide residue to be permissible on that commodity.

The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) is responsible for establishing Codex MRLs for pesticide residues in specific food items or in groups of food. The United States is represented at CCPR by a delegate from the EPA and an alternate delegate from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Growers that rely on a pesticide that currently does not have a Codex MRL can nominate a Codex MRL.

If you have identified a need for a Codex MRL, contact Aaron Niman (niman.aaron@epa.gov) or David Miller (miller.davidj@epa.gov).

U.S. involvement with the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues Activities and the U.S. Codex delegation.

Background

Before a Codex MRL can be established, human health risk assessments must be conducted to ensure the food supply is safe. It is the responsibility of the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) to review the appropriate toxicology and residue field trial data, conduct dietary risk assessments and to recommend specific MRLs to the CCPR. For a chemical/commodity to be considered for review by the JMPR it must first be nominated by a Member Country to the CCPR Electronic Working Group on Priorities.

Once the U.S. delegation to the CCPR is informed there is a need for a specific Codex MRL, the delegation will work with registrants and the Interregional Project Number 4 (IR-4) to determine if there are data available to submit to the JMPR for review. If data are available, the U.S. delegation will nominate a chemical to the Electronic Working Group on Priorities so that chemical can be scheduled for review by the JMPR. Once JMPR has conducted its review, provided there are no issues or concerns, the CCPR will consider the establishment of the MRL at the meeting after the JMPR meeting where it was considered.

Existing Codex MRLs Exit

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