Commission Directive 2007/7/EC
of 14 February 2007
amending certain Annexes to Council Directives 86/362/EEC and 90/642/EEC as regards the maximum residue levels of atrazine, lambda-cyhalothrin, phenmedipham, methomyl, linuron, penconazole, pymetrozine, bifenthrin and abamectin
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 86/362/EEC of 24 July 1986 on the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on cereals1, and in particular Article 10 thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 90/642/EEC of 27 November 1990 on the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on certain products of plant origin, including fruit and vegetables2, and in particular Article 7 thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market3, and in particular Article 4(1)(f) thereof
Whereas:
In accordance with Directive 91/414/EEC, authorisations of plant protection products for use on specific crops are the responsibility of the Member States. Such authorisations have to be based on the evaluation of effects on human and animal health and influence on the environment. Elements to be taken into account in such evaluations include operator and bystander exposure and impact on the terrestrial, aquatic and aerial environments, as well as impact on humans and animals through consumption of residues on treated crops.
Maximum residue levels (MRLs) reflect the use of minimum quantities of pesticides to achieve effective protection of plants, applied in such a manner that the amount of residue is the smallest practicable and is toxicologically acceptable, in particular in terms of estimated dietary intake.
MRLs for pesticides covered by Directives 86/363/EEC and 90/642/EEC are to be kept under review and may be modified to take account of new or changed uses. Information about new or changed uses has been communicated to the Commission which will lead to changes in the residue levels of lambda-cyhalothrin, phenmedipham, methomyl, linuron, penconazole and pymetrozine.
The lifetime exposure of consumers to those pesticides via food products that may contain residues of those pesticides, has been assessed and evaluated in accordance with the procedures and practices used within the Community, taking account of guidelines published by the World Health Organisation4. In this evaluation it was taken into account that abamectin is also used as veterinary medicine intended for food-producing animals and that maximum residue limits have been established for that substance in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2377/90 of 26 June 1990 laying down a Community procedure for the establishment of maximum residue limits of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs of animal origin5. Based on that assessment and those evaluations, the MRLs for those pesticides should be set so as to ensure that the acceptable daily intake is not exceeded.
In the case of lambda-cyhalothrin, methomyl, linuron and pymetrozine, for which an acute reference dose (ARfD) exists, the acute exposure of consumers via each of the food products that may contain residues of these pesticides has been assessed and evaluated in accordance with the procedures and practices currently used within the Community, taking account of guidelines published by the World Health Organisation. The opinions of the Scientific Committee on Plants, in particular advice and recommendations concerning the protection of consumers of food products treated with pesticides6, have been taken into account. Based on the dietary intake assessment, the MRLs for those pesticides should be fixed so as to ensure that the ARfD will not be exceeded. In the case of the other substances, an assessment of the available information has shown that no ARfD is required and that therefore a short-term assessment is not needed.
As regards atrazine on cereals, new information has become available since the adoption of Commission Directive 2006/61/EC of 7 July 2006 amending the Annexes to Council Directives 86/362/EEC, 86/363/EEC and 90/642/EEC as regards maximum residue levels for atrazine, azinphos-ethyl, cyfluthrin, ethephon, fenthion, methamidophos, methomyl, paraquat and triazophos7 which shows that a higher MRL than inserted by that Directive into Directive 86/362/EEC is safe for the consumers. The MRL inserted by Directive 2006/61/EC should therefore be replaced by a higher one.
Where authorised uses of plant protection products do not result in detectable levels of pesticide residues in or on the food product, or where there are no authorised uses, or where uses which have been authorised by Member States have not been supported by the necessary data, or where uses in third countries resulting in residues in or on food products which may enter into circulation in the Community market have not been supported with such necessary data, MRLs should be fixed at the lower limit of analytical determination.
Therefore it is appropriate to fix new MRLs for those pesticides.
The setting or modification at Community level of provisional MRLs does not prevent the Member States from establishing provisional MRLs for phenmedipham, linuron, penconazole and pymetrozin in accordance with Article 4(1)(f) of Directive 91/414/EEC and Annex VI thereto. It is considered that a period of four years is sufficient to permit further uses of these substances. The provisional Community MRL should then become definitive.
Directive 90/642/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.
The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:
Article 1
Annex II to Directive 86/362/EEC is amended in accordance with Annex I to this Directive.
Article 2
Annex II to Directive 90/642/EEC is amended in accordance with Annex II to this Directive.
Article 3
1
As regards Article 1, Member States shall adopt and publish by 20 January 2007 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.
They shall apply those provisions from 21 January 2007.
2
As regards Article 2, Member States shall adopt and publish by 15 August 2007 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.
They shall apply those provisions from 16 August 2007.
3
When Member States adopt the provisions referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.
4
Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.
Article 4
This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Article 5
This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 14 February 2007.
For the Commission
Markos Kyprianou
Member of the Commission
ANNEX I
In Part A of Annex II to Directive 86/362/EEC, the line for atrazine is replaced by the following:
Pesticide residues
Maximum level in mg/kg
‘Atrazine
0,18
CEREALS
Indicates that the maximum residue level has been established temporarily until 1 January 2008 pending data to be submitted by the applicant. If no data has been received by that date, the MRL will be withdrawn by a Directive or a Regulation.’
ANNEX II
In part A of Annex II to Directive 90/642/EEC, the columns for lambda-cyhalothrin, phenmedipham, methomyl, linuron, penconazole, pymetrozine, bifenthrin and abamectin, are replaced by the following:
Pesticide residue and maximum residue level (mg/kg)
Groups and examples of individual products to which the MRLs would apply
Lambda-cyhalothrin
Phenmedipham
Methomyl/Thiodicarb(sum expressed as methomyl)
Linuron
Penconazole
Pymetrozine
Bifenthrin
Abamectin(sum of avermectin B1a, avermectin B1b and delta-8,9 isomer of avermectin B1a)
‘1.
Fruit, fresh, dried or uncooked, preserved by freezing, not containing added sugar; nuts
(i)
CITRUS FRUIT
0,059
0,3
0,1
0,019
Grapefruit
0,1
0,5
Lemons
0,2
1
Limes
0,2
1
Mandarins (including clementines and other hybrids)
0,2
1
Oranges
0,1
0,5
Pomelos
0,1
0,5
Others
0,029
0,059
(ii)
TREE NUTS (shelled or unshelled)
0,059
0,059
0,059
0,029
0,059
0,019
Almonds
Brazil nuts
Cashew nuts
Chestnuts
Coconuts
Hazelnuts
Macadamia
Pecans
Pine nuts
Pistachios
Walnuts
Others
(iii)
POME FRUIT
0,1
0,2
0,2
0,029
0,3
0,019
Apples
Pears
Quinces
Others
(iv)
STONE FRUIT
0,2
0,019
Apricots
0,2
0,2
0,1
0,05
Cherries
0,1
Peaches (including nectarines and similar hybrids)
0,2
0,2
0,1
0,05
Plums
0,5
Others
0,1
0,059
0,059
0,029
(v)
BERRIES AND SMALL FRUIT
(a)
Table and wine grapes
0,2
0,2
0,029
0,2
0,019
Table grapes
0,059
Wine grapes
1
(b)
Strawberries (other than wild)
0,5
0,110
0,059
0,059
0,5
0,5
0,1
(c)
Cane fruit (other than wild)
0,029
0,059
0,059
Blackberries
3
0,3
0,1
Dewberries
Loganberries
Raspberries
3
0,3
0,1
Others
0,029
0,059
0,019
(d)
Other small fruit and berries (other than wild)
0,059
0,019
Bilberries
0,029
Cranberries
0,029
Currants (red, black and white)
0,1
0,5
0,1
0,5
Gooseberries
0,1
Others
0,029
0,059
0,029
0,059
(e)
Wild berries and wild fruit
0,2
0,059
0,059
0,029
0,059
0,019
(vi)
MISCELLANEOUS
0,059
0,059
0,029
Avocados
Bananas
0,1
Dates
Figs
Kiwi
Kumquats
Litchis
Mangoes
0,3
Olives (table consumption)
0,5
Olives (oil extraction)
0,5
Papaya
0,5
0,05
Passion fruit
Pineapples
Pomegranate
Others
0,029
0,059
0,019
2. Vegetables, fresh or uncooked, frozen or dry
(i)
ROOT AND TUBER VEGETABLES
0,059
0,029
0,059
0,019
Beetroot
0,110
Carrots
0,210
Cassava
Celeriac
0,1
0,510
Horseradish
Jerusalem artichokes
Parsnips
0,210
Parsley root
0,210
Radishes
0,1
0,5
Salsify
Sweet potatoes
Swedes
Turnips
Yam
Others
0,029
0,059
(ii)
BULB VEGETABLES
0,059
0,059
0,029
0,059
0,019
Garlic
Onions
Shallots
Spring onions
0,05
Others
0,029
(iii)
FRUITING VEGETABLES
(a)
Solanacea
0,2
Tomatoes
0,1
0,2
0,1
0,5
0,02
Peppers
0,1
0,2
0,2
1
0,05
Aubergines
0,5
0,2
0,1
0,5
0,02
Okra
Others
0,029
0,059
0,059
0,029
0,019
(b)
Cucurbits — edible peel
0,1
0,059
0,1
0,5
0,1
0,02
Cucumbers
Gherkins
Courgettes
Others
(c)
Cucurbits — inedible peel
0,05
0,059
0,1
0,2
0,059
0,019
Melons
Squashes
Watermelons
Others
(d)
Sweetcorn
0,05
0,059
0,059
0,029
0,059
0,019
(iv)
BRASSICA VEGETABLES
0,059
0,019
(a)
Flowering brassica
0,1
0,029
0,2
Broccoli (including Calabrese)
0,2
Cauliflower
Others
0,059
(b)
Head brassica
0,059
1
Brussels sprouts
0,05
Head cabbage
0,2
0,05
Others
0,029
0,029
(c)
Leafy brassica
1
0,059
0,2
0,059
Chinese cabbage
Kale
Others
(d)
Kohlrabi
0,029
0,059
0,029
0,059
(v)
LEAF VEGETABLES AND FRESH HERBS
0,059
(a)
Lettuce and similar
1
2
2
0,1
Cress
Lamb's lettuce
Lettuce
0,3
Scarole (broad-leaf endive)
Ruccola
Leaves and stems of brassica
Others
0,059
(b)
Spinach and similar
0,5
0,510
0,029
0,059
0,019
Spinach
0,05
Beet leaves (chard)
Others
0,059
(c)
Watercress
0,029
0,059
0,029
0,059
0,019
(d)
Witloof
0,029
0,059
0,029
0,059
0,019
(e)
Herbs
1
7
0,3
110
1
0,059
1
Chervil
Chives
Parsley
Celery leaves
Others
(vi)
LEGUME VEGETABLES (fresh)
0,059
0,059
1
0,019
Beans (with pods)
0,2
0,5
Beans (without pods)
0,110
Peas (with pods)
0,2
0,1
Peas (without pods)
0,2
0,110
Others
0,029
0,059
(vii)
STEM VEGETABLES (fresh)
0,059
0,029
0,059
0,019
Asparagus
Cardoons
Celery
0,3
0,110
Fennel
0,3
0,110
Globe artichokes
0,210
0,2
Leeks
0,3
Rhubarb
Others
0,029
0,059
(viii)
FUNGI
0,059
0,059
0,029
0,059
0,019
(a)
Cultivated mushrooms
0,029
(b)
Wild mushrooms
0,5
3.
Pulses
0,029
0,059
0,059
0,029
0,059
0,019
Beans
Lentils
Peas
Lupines
Others
4.
Oilseeds
0,029
0,059
0,19
0,029
Linseed
Peanuts
0,1
Poppy seed
Sesame seed
Sunflower seed
Rapeseed
Soya bean
0,1
Mustard seed
Cotton seed
0,1
0,05
Hemp seed
Others
0,059
0,029
5.
Potatoes
0,029
0,059
0,059
0,029
0,059
0,019
Early potatoes
Ware potatoes
6.
Tea (dried leaves and stalks, fermented or otherwise, Camellia sinensis)
1
0,19
0,19
0,19
5
0,029
7.
Hops (dried), including hop pellets and unconcentrated powder
10
10
0,5
15
10
0,05
Indicates lower limit of analytical determination.
Indicates that the maximum residue level has been established provisionally in accordance with Article 4(1)(f) of Directive 91/414/EEC: unless amended, this level will become definitive with effect from 7 March 2011.’