Pesticide Residues
Pesticide Residues
Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for crop protection products are a growing cause of trade disruption for grains, oilseeds and agri-bulks. Barriers created by inconsistent, unjustified and unevenly applied MRLs create risk and can have negative consequences for farmers, exporters, importers and consumers. There has been increasing demand for a global collaborative effort to tackle this issue and create an environment that is more supportive of trade.
Gafta is the Chair of the International Grain Trade Coalition – MRL Policy Team which developed its policy on MRLs here and the briefing document here.
WTO SPS Committee
The WTO SPS and TBT committees continue to discuss many pesticide issues on approval of active substances, MRLs and import tolerances and lack of global alignment. A recent document of interest was adopted on 24th June at SPS: SANITARY AND PHYTOSANITARY DECLARATION WORK PROGRAMME: RESPONDING TO MODERN SPS CHALLENGES directdoc.aspx (wto.org)
Codex - Sustainability and MRLs
IAFN - Codex and Sustainability in Food and Agricultural Production Summary - 2023 - International Agri-Food Network (IAFN) (agrifood.net)
This private sector document supported by Gafta outlines ten considerations for the discussion on Codex Alimentarius contribution to the sustainability of food and agricultural production. The document highlights that Codex has an important role in contributing to sustainability through its mandate of protecting consumer health and ensuring fair practices in food trade enabling food safety, leading to better nutrition, less food waste, and potentially more food security, thus contributing to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there are several areas of concern and issues to consider if Codex initiates activity on sustainability in its standard setting work. Concerns remain on including environmental concerns or other legitimate factors when establishing MRLs which are set to ensure food safety and facilitate trade.
Coalition for an Enhanced Codex
@agrifoodnet @FAOWHOCodex #FoodSafety
Trade is critical to food security and the ability to trade in food is central to the livelihoods of many of the world’s rural poor. As the most important international standard-setting body in the area of food safety, the Codex Alimentarius plays a crucial role in protecting the health of the consumers enabling trade in agricultural products. This activity benefits both producers and consumers. One of its most important responsibilities is Codex’s role in setting international pesticide maximum residue limits (MRLs).
The coalition is made up of 30 commodity sectors and Gafta is a funding partner and has been actively involved in advocacy in Rome and Geneva since its inception in 2016. The group considers approaches in which further international harmonization of MRLs can be encouraged in line with Codex MRLs, including whether it may be appropriate to encourage Codex to explore ways in which MRLs may be developed more quickly. Enabling Codex to perform its role more effectively and efficiently by addressing current capacity challenges, embracing new scientific and administrative methods of evaluation, and ensuring adequate resources are available, is essential to supporting global food security and trade. Delays in the establishment of MRLs and the resulting lack of national/international harmonization have important consequences for market access, productivity and farmer livelihoods, contributing to a poorer and hungrier world.
Issues addressed: International Agri-Food Network (IAFN) - Codex (agrifood.net)
cli- EU Pesticide Renewals – Monitor (link to each edition)
Gafta participation on Codex issues: International Agri-Food Network (IAFN) - Codex