7 - 12 May 2007

CODEX - Committee on Pesticides (39th Session), Beijing , China

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

The summary and conclusions of the 39th Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues are as follows:

MATTERS FOR ADOPTION BY THE 30TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION

The Committee recommended to the Commission:

• adoption of the draft and draft revised MRLs at Step 8 and proposed draft MRLs at Step 5/8 (paras 44-136, Appendix II and Appendix III);
• revocation of certain existing Codex MRLs (paras 44-136 and Appendix V);
• adoption of the proposed draft MRLs for certain commodities at Step 5 (paras 44-136 and Appendix IV);

Approval of the following new work

• Priority List for the establishment of MRLs for certain pesticides (paras 180 - 202 and Appendix VIII);

Discontinuation of the following work

• The Committee decided to discontinue the work on the establishment of MRLs for several pesticide/commodity combinations (see paras 44 – 136 and Appendix IX).

MATTERS FOR ADVICE BY THE COMMISSION

While considering the issue of the use of the Codex MRLs at national level, the Committee agreed to inform the Commission of the discussion and request its guidance and advice on how the issue should be addressed (paras 169 – 179).

MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE COMMISSION

The Committee:

• agreed that the list of methods for determination of pesticides would not be developed as a Codex document in the Step Procedure but would stay as repository list on the IAEA website (para. 164);
• agreed that no physical working group would be convened at the next session for the preparation of priority list of pesticides for the evaluation by the JMPR and that an electronic Working Group would be established for the preparation of Priority List of Compounds to be considered at the Plenary (paras 200 – 202); and
• agreed to consider the discussion paper on the separation of milk and milk fats and the methodology for the determination of fat soluble pesticides in milk and milk products (paras 165 – 166).

MATTERS OF INTEREST TO THE JMPR

The Committee:

• agreed that a CL be issued in order to obtain information from member countries on how residues in follow-up crops, including the compound boscalid, are regulated at the national level, and that this information should be provided to JMPR for their consideration (para. 35);
• agreed to forward an alternative GAP procedure to JMPR for consideration and advice (paras 41-43);
• decided to retain draft MRLs for dimethoate (027) for lettuce, head and peppers, sweet at Step 7, awaiting 2008 JMPR evaluation of alternative GAP (para. 57);
• requested JMPR to reconsider the statistical calculation used to derive the MRL for thiabendazole (065) for citrus at its next meeting (para 67);
• decided to retain the draft MRLs for carbendazim (072) for cherries; grapes; lettuce, head; mango; oranges, sweet, sour at Step 7, awaiting the response from the JMPR to the concern form submitted by the Delegation of EC with respect to the ARfD established by JMPR (para. 69);
• decided to maintain the proposed draft MRLs for chlorpyrifos-methyl (090) for barley, oats and - vii - rice at Step 7 due to intake concerns awaiting the outcome of the periodic re-evaluation by the 2009 JMPR (para. 75);
• decided to maintain the proposed draft MRLs for methomyl (094) for Brassica vegetables, celery, fruiting vegetables, cucurbits, grapes and leafy vegetables at Step 7 awaiting the outcome of the 2008 JMPR evaluation (alternative GAP) (para. 77);
• decided to retain the draft MRLs for acephate (095) for flowerhead brassicas and mandarins at Step 7 awaiting the outcome of the 2009 JMPR evaluation (alternative GAP) (para. 78);
• decided to maintain the MRLs for carbofuran (096) for cantaloupe, cucumber, mandarin, oranges, sweet, sour; potato, squash, and sweet corn to Step 7 awaiting the evaluation by 2008 JMPR (para.80);
• decided to retain the draft MRLs for methamidophos (100) for flowerhead brassicas and mandarins at Step 7 awaiting the outcome of the 2009 JMPR evaluation (alternative GAP) for acephate (095) (para. 82);
• decided to return the MRLs for phosmet (103) for apricot, blueberries, citrus fruits, nectarine and pomme fruits to Step 6 due to intake concerns waiting the evaluation by JMPR 2007 (alternative GAP) (para. 89);
• noted that three manufacturers would submit residue data to JMPR on cypermethrins (including alpha and zeta cypermethrin) for consideration by the 2008 JMPR (para. 97);
• decided to retain the draft MRLs for oxamyl (126) for citrus fruits; cucumber; melons, except watermelon and peppers at Step 7 awaiting the JMPR review (alternative GAP) in 2008 (para.99);
• decided to retain the draft MRL for prochloraz (142) for mushrooms at Step 7 due to acute intake concerns, awaiting 2009 JMPR evaluation (para. 104);
• decided to return the draft MRLs for fenproxymate (193) for apple and grapes to Step 6 because of acute intake concerns, awaiting the outcome of the 2007 JMPR review of the ARfD (para. 115);
• decided to retain the proposed draft MRLs for haloxyfop (194) for cattle kidney; cattle liver; cattle meat and cattle milk at Step 4 and all draft MRLs at Step 7, awaiting the outcome of the 2009 JMPR evaluation (para. 116);
• noted that indoxacarb has been scheduled for evaluation by 2007 JMPR (alternative GAP) (para. 127);
• noted that the JMPR would re-evaluate the animal dietary burden for quinoxyfen at its 2007 meeting (para. 134);
• decided to retain the draft MRL for dimethoate (027) and oxamyl for dried chili peppers at Step 7, pending the 2008 JMPR evaluation of data on peppers (alternative GAP) (paras 137 and 139);
• agreed to refer the paper CX/PR 07/39/8 and other relevant documents such as CRD 22, to the JMPR (para. 179);
• noted that calls for data for future JMPR meetings would include requests for submission of available national and regional evaluations supporting the worksharing approach, including access to all relevant original studies (para. 216);
• agreed with proposals in order to ensure timely availability of the JMPR report and to facilitate consideration of MRLs in the Committee (para 224).

MATTERS OF INTEREST TO OTHER CODEX COMMITTEES

CCGP

In relation to the recommendation from the 24th Session of the Committee on General Principles that the MRLs Periodic Review Procedure should be reviewed in the light of more recent documents related to the MRL setting process and consider whether this procedure should be published in the Procedural Manual, the Committee noted that this matter should be discussed in more detail on the basis of a paper to be prepared for consideration at the next session of the Committee (para. 11).