THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 February 2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin and amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC, and in particular Article 14(1)(a) in conjunction with Article 17 and Article 18(1)(b) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
For acephate, azocyclotin, benfuracarb, captafol, carbaryl, carbofuran, carbosulfan, chlorfenapyr, cyhexatin, diazinon, dicofol, disulfoton, fenitrothion, furathiocarb, hexaconazole, methamidophos, monocrotophos, oxydemeton-methyl, parathion-methyl, phorate, procymidone, profenofos, quintozene, tolylfluanid and tridemorph maximum residue levels (MRLs) were set in Annex II and Part B of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. For alachlor, anilazine, butylate, chlorthal-dimethyl, chlorthiamid, dichlobenil, dimethipin, diniconazole, flufenzin, lactofen, mepronil, methoprene, monuron, oxycarboxin, phosalone, propachlor, quinclorac, trichlorfon and trifluralin MRLs were set in Part A of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.
(2)
The European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) gave reasoned opinions on the existing MRLs for dicofol and propachlor pursuant to Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, examining in particular the risks to the consumer and, where relevant, to animals. Those opinions have been forwarded to the Commission and the Member States and were made available to the public.
(3)
In its opinion of 22 August 2011 concerning dicofol, the Authority recommends neither inclusion of that active substance in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, nor inclusion of the Codex MRLs (CXLs) in Annex II to that Regulation. However, CXLs on melons, cotton seed, tea, hops and poultry were considered acceptable with regard to consumer safety and should therefore not be deleted from Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. All other MRLs should be reduced to the relevant limit of determination (LOD).
(4)
In its opinion of 28 July 2011 concerning propachlor, the Authority does not recommend inclusion of that active substance in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. All MRLs should therefore be reduced to the relevant LOD.
(5)
All existing authorisations for plant protection products containing the active substances referred to in recital 1 have been revoked. In accordance with Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 in conjunction with Article 14(1)(a) thereof the MRLs set out for those active substances in Annexes II and III should therefore be deleted. This should not apply to those MRLs corresponding to CXLs based on uses in third countries, provided that they are acceptable with regard to consumer safety. Nor should it apply in cases where MRLs have been specifically set as import tolerances.
(6)
As regards carbaryl, carbosulfan and profenofos, the Codex Alimentarius Commission adopted CXLs for spices (fruits and berries) on 9 July 2011. These CXLs are safe for EU consumers and should therefore be included in Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.
(7)
The Commission consulted the European Union reference laboratories for residues of pesticides as regards the need to adapt certain LODs. As regards several substances, those laboratories concluded that for certain commodities technical development permits the setting of lower LODs. For those active substances for which all MRLs should be reduced to the relevant LOD, default values should be fixed and listed in Annex V in accordance with Article 18(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.
(8)
Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(9)
In order to allow normal marketing, processing and consumption of products, this Regulation should provide for a transitional arrangement for products which have been lawfully produced before the modification of the MRLs and for which the Authority’s model for acute and chronic risk assessment shows that a high level of consumer protection is maintained.
(10)
A reasonable period should be allowed to elapse before the modified MRLs become applicable in order to permit Member States, third countries and food business operators to prepare themselves to meet the new requirements which will result from the modification of the MRLs.
(11)
Through the World Trade Organisation, the trading partners of the Union were consulted on the new MRLs and their comments have been taken into account.
(12)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and neither the European Parliament nor the Council has opposed them,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: