Maximum Residue Levels (MRL)

Date: 21 May 2020

The abbreviation MRL stands for “maximum residue level”, which describes the highest legally tolerated level of a pesticide residue remaining in food or feed. MRL are regulated by Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on “maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin and shall guarantee safe food and feed”. For the setting of MRLs, active substance properties and the conditions of use (GAP) for the plant protection product are reviewed and the calculations consider the safety of all consumer groups, e.g. children or vegetarians. MRLs apply to fresh products as well as processed products.

Please note that MRLs are not set for all active substances. Exceptions are listed in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 and include for example “foodstuff” or chemicals and natural materials of very low toxicity.

MRLs are also important for imported crops grown in third countries outside of the EU, e.g. exotic fruits. In these cases, the legislation in the exporting countries can differ to the European law. For example, plant protection products might be authorised and used in third countries, which contain active substances not approved in the EU. To guarantee the high safety level of goods in the EU, such commodities can only be imported if they do not exceed a specific MRL set as import tolerance. The setting of import tolerances can for example be requested by producers of active substances or by traders who would like to export/import respective commodities.

Carla Lorenz