Concerns Raised Over Pesticide Residue Limits in Food, Strict Restrictions on Products Like Rice and Coffee!

The Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) officially issued Directive IN No333 on November 1, 2024 through the official Gazette. This directive mainly involves the development and revision of the maximum residue limits for pesticides such as ABAMECTIN in some foods. These limits are set to ensure food safety and protect consumer health. The directive is implemented immediately from the date of publication to ensure the compliance of the relevant products on the market.

In these new regulations, MRLS for abamectin are set at 0.01 mg/kg for rice, 0.03 mg/kg for hops, 0.002 mg/kg for oats, rye, barley and wheat, and 0.01 mg/kg for coffee. In addition, the maximum residue limit of LAMBDA-CIALOTRINA in rice is 1.5 mg/kg, and the maximum residue limit of DIFLUBENZUROM in rice is 0.2 mg/kg. The maximum residue limit of DIFENOCONAZOL in garlic, onion and shallot is 1.5 mg/kg.

In addition to updating pesticide residue limits, ANVISA has also published a consultation document on limits for contaminants in food (Directive 160 2022), with a comment period ending December 24, 2024. The document proposes proposed standards for maximum limits of contaminants such as lead in some food categories. For example, the maximum limit for lead in cereal foods for infants and young children is set at 0.02 mg/kg, and the maximum limit for aflatoxin (B1+B2) in corn products such as corn flour and corn flakes is 2 mg/kg. The maximum limit of 3-mono-chloropropanediol (3-MCPD) in liquid flavourings containing natural plant protein (except soy sauce) is 0.4 mg/kg, and the maximum limit of Melamine in general foods (excluding infant formula) is 2.5 mg/kg.

These measures reflect the Brazilian government's active action in food safety regulation, aiming to reduce the potential risk to public health of contaminants and pesticide residues in food through scientifically reasonable limits. Through these stringent regulatory measures, the Brazilian government hopes to ensure that food sold on the market meets safety standards, thereby protecting the health and well-being of consumers.