The new national standard for pesticide residues will take effect on September 3! It is the strictest ever and covers the broadest range of products.

Release Date:

2021-08-25

In April this year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in collaboration with the National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation, issued the revised “National Food Safety Standard—Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Foods” (GB 2763-2021) (hereinafter referred to as the “New Standard”). According to the requirements, the New Standard will officially come into effect on September 3.

This new standard is the strictest in history and has the broadest scope. For the first time, the total number of standards exceeds 10,000; compared with the 2019 edition, it adds 81 pesticide active ingredients and 2,985 maximum residue limits. Compared with the 2014 edition—prior to the 13th Five-Year Plan—the number of pesticide active ingredients has increased by 46%, while the number of maximum residue limits has risen by 176%.

According to reports, the new standards align with the requirement of “the most stringent criteria” by scientifically setting maximum residue limits, prioritizing oversight of high-risk pesticides and key agricultural products, and thereby enhancing the overall safety and quality of agricultural produce. The regulations establish 792 maximum residue limits for 29 prohibited pesticides, including methamidophos, and 345 maximum residue limits for 20 restricted-use pesticides, such as omethoate, providing a robust basis for enforcing compliance and deterring the illegal or non‑compliant use of banned and restricted pesticides.

The new version of the standard has four main features.

First, the scope of covered pesticide varieties and maximum residue limits has expanded significantly. Compared with the 2019 edition, the new standard adds 81 pesticide varieties, a 16.7% increase; it also introduces 2,985 additional maximum residue limits, representing a 42% increase. The total number of pesticide varieties and residue limits now approaches nearly twice the level set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), comprehensively covering all pesticide varieties approved for use in China as well as the major plant‑derived agricultural products.

Second, it embodies the “four strictest” requirements. It has established 792 maximum residue limits for 29 prohibited pesticides and 345 maximum residue limits for 20 restricted-use pesticides; in response to public concern regarding fresh produce such as vegetables and fruits, it has formulated or revised 5,766 residue limits, accounting for 57.1% of the total number of existing limits; and, to strengthen oversight of imported agricultural products, it has set 1,742 residue limits for 87 pesticides that are not registered for use in China.

Third, standard-setting has become more scientific and rigorous, aligning with international practices. The revised standards were developed on the basis of China’s pesticide‑registration residue testing, market monitoring, household dietary consumption data, and pesticide toxicology studies, and risk assessments were conducted in accordance with CAC‑standard procedures. Extensive consultations were held with stakeholders, including experts, the general public, and relevant government departments and agencies, and the standards were subject to review by World Trade Organization members. The risk‑assessment principles, methods, and data requirements adopted are fully aligned with those of the CAC and leading developed countries.

Fourth, the development of supporting analytical methods for maximum residue limits of pesticides has been accelerated. In this round, the three departments also simultaneously issued four standards for pesticide‑residue analysis, 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 whereby certain pesticide‑residue standards stipulated maximum limits but lacked corresponding analytical methods.

Source: AgroPages (World Agrochemical Network)

Tags:

Latest survey data: China’s total cultivated land amounts to 1.918 billion mu, of which paddy fields account for 471 million mu, or 24.55%.

Two documents have been issued to ensure robust support for the transportation of agricultural production materials.

More information

The National Agricultural Technology Center has issued guidelines on “one spray, three protections” for wheat to address the heightened risk of recurrent outbreaks of Fusarium head blight, stripe rust, and aphids.

2026-04-10

The petrochemical and chemical industries comprise more than 27,000 large-scale production enterprises—efforts to upgrade and retrofit aging facilities are being further intensified.

2026-04-06

In 2026, corn borer, cotton bollworm, and ear rot—among other corn pests and diseases—are expected to occur at a relatively severe level. The National Agricultural Technology Center has issued a control plan!

2026-04-02

Address: