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HSE Pesticides ebulletin

Issued: 17 January 2023

This ebulletin includes informationon the Plant Protection Products (PPP)regulations in Northern Ireland (NI) only.

Northern Ireland PPP authorisations affected by EU MRL amendments

Under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement and Northern Ireland Protocol, PPP authorisations in NI must comply with the relevant EU MRLs (maximum residue levels). The EU MRL review programme can result in EU MRLs being lowered and PPPs authorised in NI may be affected.

Find out the status of ongoing and upcoming EU MRL reviews.

Future EU MRL amendments: publication expected early 2023

In November 2022, the EU SCoPAFF (Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed) agreed to changes to EU MRLs for a number of active substances under Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

If these pass scrutiny by the European Parliament and Council, we can expect the publication of EU implementing Regulations for the revised MRLs in the next 4-6 months. The MRLs are likely to come into force 6 months following publication i.e. by late-2023.

It is expected that EU MRLs will be amended for the following active substances:

Find out which commodities are affected by searching for the active substance in the EU MRL database. Related changes proposed to EU MRLs will shortly appear in the 'not yet applicable' column.

The list above does not include EU MRLs resulting from applications to raise EU MRLs, e.g. to support new PPP uses, or proposals to list active substances on Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 (actives not subject to MRLs).

What HSE will do

HSE will aim to identify NI PPP authorisations that require amending or withdrawing as a result of new EU MRLs coming into force and contact authorisation holders that are affected.

What NI PPP authorisation holders are advised to do

Authorisation holders are advised to check that their NI PPP authorisations comply with the amended EU MRLs. Authorisation holders who identify any NI PPP authorisations that will not comply with the amended EU MRLs are advised to contact us.

Authorisation holders should review the European Food Safety Authoritys reasoned opinions which identify data/information that is unavailable but is required to retain MRLs following EU MRL reviews.

These appear as footnotes in the EU MRL database and authorisation holders wishing to retain EU MRLs should submit the data/information by the deadline in an application to an EU Member State.

Guidance on submitting data to confirm EU MRLs.