G/SPS/N/GBR/18  
 
27 June 2022  
(22-4952) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED KINGDOM  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and The 
Health and Safety Executive.  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Cereals (HS Codes: 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1005, 1006, 1007, 
1008), foodstuffs of animal origin  (HS Codes: 0201, 0202, 0203, 0204, 0205, 0206, 0207, 
0208, 0209, 0210) and certain products of plant origin, including fruit and vegetables  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Proposed GB Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for 
ethoprophos, fenamidone, methiocarb, propiconazole and pymetrozine amending the GB 
MRL Statutory Register . Language(s):  English . Number of pages:  37 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2022/SPS/GBR/22_4232_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The document outlines the proposed MRLs for ethoprophos, 
fenamidone, methiocarb, propiconazole and pymetrozine following a review of the relevant 
MRLs by the Health and Safety Executive. The draft Reasoned Opinions on the review of 
the MRLs are available at the following link:  
The review of the MRLs for ethoprophos - Proposed MRLs (hse.gov.uk)  
The review of the MR Ls for fenamidone - Proposed MRLs (hse.gov.uk)  
The review of the MRLs for methiocarb - Proposed MRLs (hse.gov.uk)  
The review of the MRLs for propiconazole - Proposed MRLs (hse.gov.uk)  
The review of the MRLs for pymetrozine - Proposed MRLs (hse.gov.uk)  
All MRLs are being lowered to the limit of quantification as the risks of a harmful effect on 
human health mean that the appropriate level of human protection is not met.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) :  
− The codex MRLs (CXLs) adopted for ethoprophos, fenamidone, methiocarb and 
propiconazole are available in the Codex Pesticide Residues in Food Online 
Database:  http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/codex -
texts/dbs/pestres/en/ . G/SPS/N/GBR/18  
 
- 2 - 
 
  − There are no CXLs for pymetrozine. However, the JMPR (Joint Meeting of the 
FAO/WHO)  on Pesticide Residues evaluated pymetrozine as a new active 
substance in 2014(1). The JMPR was unable to recommend any MRLs as they 
could not conclude on residue definitions for risk assessment for both plants 
and animals; there were a number of metabolit es to which humans and 
livestock may be exposed to for which the JMPR could not conclude on the 
toxicological profile, and this included potential genotoxic concerns.  
− The CXLs specifically for ethoprophos, fenamidone, methiocarb and 
propiconazole are available here:  
• Ethoprophos:  http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/codex -
texts/dbs/pestres/pesticide -detail/en/?p_id=149  
• Fenamidone:  http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/codex -
texts/dbs/pestres/pesticide -detail/en/?p_id=264  
• Methiocarb:  http://www.fao.org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/codex -
texts/dbs/pestres/pesticide -detail/en/?p_id=132  
• Propiconazole:  http://www.fao. org/fao -who-codexalimentarius/codex -
texts/dbs/pestres/pesticide -detail/en/?p_id=160  
(1) JMPR (Joint Meeting of the FAO/WHO on Pesticide Residues), 2014. 
Report  2014: 
https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/agphome/documents/Pests_Pesticides/J
MPR/Report2014/JMPR_2014_Full_Report.pdf  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal H ealth Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [X] No  
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it dev iates from the 
international standard:  There are currently codex MRLs established for ethoprophos, 
fenamidone, methiocarb and propiconazole and these are listed in the 'Codex Pesticide 
Residues in Food Online Database'.  
The conclusion, following risk asses sment, was that for the MRLs ethoprohpos, 
fenamidone, methiocarb, propiconazole, and pymetrozine, harmful effects for human 
health cannot be excluded.  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:    
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : 24 October 2022  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : 24 October 2022  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [X]  Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) :  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 26 August 2022  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [  ] National Notification 
Authority, [X]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax numb er and e -mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
UK SPS Contact Point, Defra, Nobel House, London SW1P 3JR  
E-mail: UKSPS@defra.gov.uk  
13. Text(s) available from: [  ] National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
UK SPS Contact Point, Defra, Nobel House, London SW1P 3JR  
E-mail: UKSPS@defra.gov.uk