China has surpassed 10,000 maximum residue limits for pesticides, achieving comprehensive coverage of pesticide active ingredients and major plant-derived agricultural products.

Release Date:

2021-04-07

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in collaboration with the National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation, recently released a new edition of the “National Food Safety Standard: Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Foods.” The standard sets 10,092 maximum residue limits for 564 pesticides across 376 food categories, comprehensively covering all pesticide varieties approved for use in China as well as the country’s major plant‑based agricultural products.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs stated that the new version of the standard significantly expands both the number of pesticide active ingredients covered and the number of maximum residue limits. Compared with the 2019 edition, the new standard adds 81 pesticide varieties, a 16.7% increase, and introduces 2,985 additional maximum residue limit entries, representing a 42% rise. The total number of pesticide varieties and residue limits now stands at roughly twice the level set by the relevant standards of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC).

According to reports, the revised standards establish 792 maximum residue limits (MRLs) for 29 prohibited pesticides and 345 MRLs for 20 restricted‑use pesticides. For fresh produce such as vegetables and fruits—products that attract significant public attention—the standards have been updated or newly established to cover 5,766 residue limits, accounting for 57.1% of the total number of existing limits. To strengthen oversight of imported agricultural products, 1,742 residue limits have been set for 87 pesticides that are not registered for use in China.

The official stated that the standard‑setting process is more scientific and rigorous, and aligned with international practices. The revised standard was developed on the basis of China’s pesticide residue data from registration trials, market monitoring, household dietary consumption patterns, and pesticide toxicology studies. It follows the CAC’s established risk‑assessment procedures, incorporates extensive input from experts, the general public, relevant government departments, and other stakeholders, and has undergone review by members of the World Trade Organization. The risk‑assessment principles, methods, and data requirements adopted are consistent with those of the CAC and leading developed countries.

This time, the three departments also simultaneously released four standards for pesticide‑residue testing, including the “National Food Safety Standard: Determination of Residues of 331 Pesticides and Their Metabolites in Plant‑Derived Foods by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry,” thereby effectively addressing the issue in some pesticide‑residue standards where maximum residue limits are set but no corresponding analytical methods exist.

The revised standard will come into effect on September 3, 2021.

Source: AgroPages (World Agrochemical Network)

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