EU wide Maximum Residue Levels are already set for about 250 active substances (ingredient compounds used in pesticides). For the remaining substances, the EFSA evaluation is now the first step in the full harmonization of the Maximum Residue Levels for pesticides which are presently subject to different national Maximum Residue Levels in the Member States. EFSA performed an assessment of the safety of proposed temporary MRLs for 236 active substances based on model calculations which aimed to estimate the exposure of European consumers. EFSA’s exposure assessment took into account food consumption patterns across Europe and considered specific vulnerable subgroups of the population such as children and infants. More than 62.000 individual MRLs were assessed. EFSA applied a conservative screening model and identified those MRLs that are unlikely to present a risk to consumers.

The risk assessment methodology developed for this specific risk assessment task is based on internationally recognized methodologies. Owing to the high number of temporary MRLs that had to be evaluated and the limited availability of data[4], additional conservative elements were introduced in the calculations to overcome the data gaps and to have an efficient tool to manage the high number of calculations necessary. Therefore, the results of the calculations have to be considered as a first screening in order to identify those proposed temporary MRLs that are not likely to pose risk to consumers. According to EFSA’s risk assessment, 92 of the 236 active substances MRLs were unlikely to present a chronic[5] or acute[6] risk to consumers. For the remaining 144 substances, the first screening could not exclude a potential consumer risk and therefore further scientific assessment and/or risk management considerations are necessary. EFSA is ready to provide additional scientific advice to risk managers in harmonising temporary MRLs for pesticides at EU level.

EFSA has finalised its evaluation within the 6-month timeframe agreed with the Commission and will now forward it to the European Commission, Member States and the European Parliament.

The full opinion and Annexes are available on the EFSA website at: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/32r.htm