Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations, which are made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972, further amend the provisions of the Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 (“the principal Regulations”).

The Regulations specify maximum levels of pesticide residues which crops, food and feeding stuffs may contain in implementation of Commission Directives 2003/60/EC, 2003/62/EC and 2003/69/EC. New columns of pesticides are added to Part II to Schedule 2 of the principal Regulations for the residues of Acibenzolar-S-methyl, Chlorfenapyr, Cinidon-ethyl, Cyclanilide, Cyhalofop butyl, Diquat, Ethofumesate, Famoxadone, Fenhexamid, Fentin acetate, Fentin hydroxide, Florasulam, Flumioxazine, Iprovalicarb, Isoproturon, Metalaxyl-M, Picolinafen, Prosulfuron, Pyraflufen-ethyl and Sulfosulfuron. Complete revised columns for the residues of pesticides Aminotriazole (Amitrole), Azoxystrobin, Clofentezine, Hexaconazole, Lambda-cyhalothrin, Myclobutanil and Prochloraz have been substituted for existing columns in Part II to Schedule 2 of the principal Regulations. The previous column headed ‘Aminotriazole (Amitrole)’ is replaced by ‘Amitrole’ (regulation 2(6)).

Regulation 2(3) adds the names of further pesticide residue substances to Schedule 1 which specifies the substances used to assess residues.

In completion of the implementation of Commission Directive 2002/71/EC, these Regulations remove pesticide residues for Omethoate, that had previously been set nationally by virtue of powers contained in the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, from the list contained in Part I to Schedule 2 of the principal Regulations as they have been replaced by Community levels for Dimethoate (regulation 2(4)).

Other minor alterations to implement changes of pesticide residue for other pesticides, namely Chlormequat, Dimethoate, Kresoxim-methyl and Maneb Mancozeb Metiram Propineb Zineb, are made to specified products in regulation 2(5).

The definition of “the Residues Directives” is updated to take account of the Directives being implemented (regulation 2(2)).