EFSA modifies the MRLs for fluopicolide in hops and certain vegetables

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued reasoned opinions on the modification of the existing MRLs for fluopicolide in hops and certain root and tuber vegetables.

Germany, as the evaluating Member State Germany (EMS-DE) received an application from Verband Deutscher Hopfenpflanzer e.V. to modify the existing MRL for the active substance fluopicolide in hops. In order to accommodate for the intended use of fluopicolide, Germany proposed to raise the existing MRL from the limit of quantification to 0.7 mg/kg. The United Kingdom (EMS-UK) received an application from Bayer CropScience Europe to set import tolerances for the active substance fluopicolide in root and tuber group of vegetables from the United States of America at the level of 0.15 mg/kg.

Both Germany and the United Kingdom drafted an evaluation report in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, which were submitted to the European Commission and forwarded to EFSA. EFSA combined both applications in one reasoned opinion. According to EFSA the data are sufficient to derive MRL proposals of 0.7 mg/kg for the proposed use on hops and 0.2 mg/kg for the group of other root and tuber vegetables. Since for the crops classified in the group of other root and tuber vegetables the MRL in the country of origin is 0.15 mg/kg, risk managers could consider 0.15 mg/kg as an alternative option. For sugar beet, potatoes and the group of tropical root and tuber vegetables no modification of the existing MRL was found necessary. Adequate analytical enforcement methods are available to control the residues of fluopicolide on the commodities under consideration.

Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concludes that the proposed use of fluopicolide on hops, and the whole root and tuber group of vegetables will not result in a consumer exposure exceeding the toxicological reference values and therefore is unlikely to pose a consumer health risk.

Thus EFSA proposes to amend the existing MRLs as follow:
 

Commodity	Existing EU MRL(mg/kg)	Proposed EU MRL(mg/kg)
Potatoes	0.03	No new proposal
Cassava	0.01	No new proposal
Sweet potatoes
Yams
Arrowroot
Others
Beetroot	0.01	0.15 or 0.2
Celeriac
Horseradish
Jerusalem artichokes
Parsnips
Parsley root
Salsify
Swedes
Turnips
Others
Carrots	0.15	0.15 or 0.2
Radishes
Hops (dried)	0.02	0.7
Sugar beet	0.15	No new proposal
Horseradish	0.02	No new proposal