Europe to harmonise pesticide testing for cereals

The aim is part of trend to reduce the levels of chemicals residues in foods and will force processors to carefully monitor their supplies of ingredients. Harmonising pesticide testing will also improve comparability of results, which should improve food safety across the bloc. The European Commission recommendations follow an European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) analysis aimed to estimating the exposure of European consumers to commonly used pesticides. According to the risk assessment, 92 of the 236 active substances evaluated by EFSA were unlikely to present a risk to consumers. For the remaining 144 substances, the first screening could not exclude a potential consumer risk. These are some of the first steps towards full EU harmonisation of national maximum residue (MRL) levels for pesticides in the member states. EU wide MRL are already set for about 250 active ingredient compounds used in pesticides. MRLs that are considered safe for the population in one member state may not necessarily be safe for the population in other countries due to different food consumption habits across Europe. Until now each member state has set its residue levels based on national diets and its own risk assessments. In order to ensure better protection for consumers in the EU internal market, the Commission will now set EU-wide MRLs. As part of the programme, the Commission has asked member states to take and analyse samples for a range of product and pesticide combinations as set out in the recommendations. The national regualtors should include at least 10 samples of baby food, based on vegetables, fruits and cereals. Organic products should also be tested - reflecting the growing size of the market within Europe, the Commission advised. Member states will now commence the testing programme, which is likely lead the Commission to establish temporary MRLs before final limits are set.