EU Plans to Relax Pesticide Residue Limits, Dipropionic Acid Might Become New Food Safety Concern in 2024!

On October 4, 2024, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued an official statement announcing plans to revise the maximum residue limits for dichlorpropionate (MRL) in cereals.

In accordance with the express provisions of Chapter 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, Nufarm Crop Products UK Ltd. The application for this revision has been formally submitted to the relevant Italian State authorities. After a thorough and detailed assessment, EFSA concluded that, based on current agricultural practices, the risk of short-term and long-term ingestion of residues resulting from the use of dipropionic acid is unlikely to have a significant impact on consumer health.

Specifically, the data submitted in the application was found to be sufficient to support a revision of the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for the active substance in barley, oats, rye and wheat grains. At the same time, sufficient enforcement analytical methods are available to effectively monitor droplet propionic acid residues in the commodity under consideration and in animal substrates at a validated limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.01 mg/kg.