COMMI SSION REGUL ATION (EU) 2020/749 
of 4 June 2020 
amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council 
as regards maximum residue levels for chlorate in or on certain products 
(Text with EEA relevance) 
THE EUR OPEAN COMMISSION, 
Havi ng regar d to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, 
Havi ng regard to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 Febr uary 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 (1), and in particular Article 14(1)(a) and Article 16(1)(a) thereof, 
Whereas: 
(1) According to Commission Decision 2008/865/EC (2) all author isations for plant protect ion products containing 
chlorate have been revok ed followi ng the non-inclusion of chlorate in Annex I to Council Directive 91/414/EEC (3). 
(2) No specific maximum residue levels (MRLs) have been set for chlorat e and, as this substance has not been included in 
Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, currently the default MRL of 0,01 mg/kg applies to all food and feed 
commodities included in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. 
(3) Apar t from its former use in plant protection products, chlorate is also a substance that is formed as by-product 
resulting from the use of chlor ine disinfectants in food and drinking water processing. These uses lead to the 
current situation of detectable residues of chlorate in food. 
(4) The European Food Safety Auth ority (‘the Author ity’) collect ed between 2014 and 2018 monitoring data to 
inve stigat e the presence of residues of chlorate in food and drinking water . Those data indicated that chlorate 
residues are present at levels that frequently exceed the default MRL of 0,01 mg/kg and that the levels vary 
depending on the source and the product. It follows from those findings that even if good practices are used, it is 
currently not possible to achieve levels of chlorate residues compl iant with the current MRL of 0,01 mg/kg. 
(5) The Author ity adopt ed a scientific opinion concer ning the risks for public health relat ed to the presence of chlorat e 
in food (4). In that opinion the Author ity established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 3 μg/kg body weight per day and 
an acute reference dose (ARfD) of 36 μg/kg body weight. The Author ity concluded that based on the data collect ed 
in 2014 the acute dietar y exposure to chlorate did not excee d the ARfD. The mean dietar y exposures to chlorat e in 
European countr ies excee ded the TDI in certain subgroups of the population such as infants and young children 
with mild to moderate iodine deficien cy. 
(6) In order to bring chlorate levels down and reduce exposure through coordinat ed action in several relevant and 
relat ed sector s, a multi-disciplinar y action plan was agreed by the Member States in 2017 compris ing a set of 
actions to be taken in parallel, including actions on drinking water , hygiene, and the setting of temporar y maximum 
residue levels for food and feed. 
(1)OJ L 70, 16.3.2005, p. 1. 
(2)Commission Decision 2008/865/EC of 10 November 2008 concer ning the non-inclusion of chlorate in Annex I to Council Directive 
91/414/EEC and the withdrawal of author isations for plant protection products containing that substance (OJ L 307, 18.11.2008, 
p. 7). 
(3)Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concer ning the placing of plant prot ection products on the market (OJ L 230, 
19.8.1991, p. 1). 
(4)EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), 2015. Scientific opinion on the risks for public health relate d to the presence of chlorat e in 
food. EFSA Journal 2015;13(6):4135, 103 pp. EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 8.6.2020                                                                                                                                            L 178/7   (7) This Regulation addresses the setting of temporar y maximum levels in food. For this purpose a large number of 
occur rence data was collect ed between 2014 and 2018, both by Member States and by food business operat ors. 
The data shows a general trend towards decreasing levels, sugges ting that manuf actur ing practices have already 
imp roved to a certain extent. In the specifi c case of chlorat e, for whic h residues do not stem from pesticide use but 
result from use of chlor ine-based solutions in food processing and drinking water treatment, maximum levels 
should be set at levels whic h are ‘as low as reasonably achievable’ (ALARA principle) by follo wing good 
manufact uring practices while ensur ing at the same time that good hygiene practices remain possible. This 
approach ensures that food business operat ors apply measures to prevent and reduce the chlorat e levels in food as 
far as possible in order to prote ct public health, but also take into account the need for microbiological safety of 
food. 
(8) Temp orar y MRLs for chlorate according to the ALARA principle are based on the 95th percentile of the occur rence 
data, taking into account the use of legitimately treated drinking wate r in food processing.The temporar y MRLs 
should be reviewed at the latest within five years of publication of this Regulation in the light of possible 
developments in the area of hygiene, of drinking wate r, further progress made by food business operat ors to bring 
chlorate levels down ,or whenever new information and data become available that would warrant an earlier review . 
(9) The Commission consulte d the European Union reference laboratori es on appropr iate limits of determination 
(LOD s) for chlorate residues in certain specifi c commodties. 
(10) Based on the scientifi c opinion of the Authority and taking into account the factors relevant to the matte r under 
consideration, the proposed MRLs fulfil the requirements of Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. 
(11) Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 should theref ore be amended according ly. 
(12) The measures provid ed for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committ ee on 
Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGUL ATION: 
Article 1 
Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation. 
Article 2 
The temporar y MRLs for chlorate shall be reviewed not later than 8 June 2025. 
Article 3 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day followi ng that of its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Union. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 4 June 2020.  
For the Commission 
The President 
Ursula VON DER LEYEN     EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union L 178/8                                                                                                                                             8.6.2020   ANNEX 
In Part A of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 the follo wing column for chlorate is added: 
‘Pesticide residues and maximum residue levels (mg/kg)                                                                
Code number Groups and exam ples of individual products to which the MRLs apply (a) 
Chlorate (A)  
(1) (2) (3) 
0100000 FRUITS, FRESH or FROZEN; TREE NUTS  
0110000 Citr us fruits 0,05 
0110010 Grapefr uits  
0110020 Orange s  
0110030 Lemons  
0110040 Limes  
0110050 Mandar ins  
0110990 Others (2)  
0120000 Tree nuts 0,1 
0120010 Almonds  
0120020 Brazil nuts  
0120030 Cashew nuts  
0120040 Chestnuts  
0120050 Coconuts  
0120060 Hazelnuts/cobnuts  
0120070 Macadamias  
0120080 Pecans  
0120090 Pine nut kern els  
0120100 Pistac hios  
0120110 Walnuts  
0120990 Others (2)  
0130000 Pome fruits 0,05 
0130010 Apples  
0130020 Pears  
0130030 Quinces  
0130040 Medlars  
0130050 Loquats/Japanese medlars  
0130990 Others (2)  EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 8.6.2020                                                                                                                                            L 178/9   (1) (2) (3) 
0140000 Stone fruits 0,05 
0140010 Apr icots  
0140020 Cher ries (sweet)  
0140030 Peaches  
0140040 Plums  
0140990 Others (2)  
0150000 Berries and small fruits 0,05 
0151000 (a) grapes  
0151010 Table grapes  
0151020 Wine grapes  
0152000 (b) straw berries  
0153000 (c) cane fruits  
0153010 Blackberr ies  
0153020 Dewber ries  
0153030 Raspber ries (red and yello w)  
0153990 Others (2)  
0154000 (d) other small fruits and berries  
0154010 Blueber ries  
0154020 Cranber ries  
0154030 Currants (blac k, red and white)  
0154040 Gooseber ries (green, red and yellow)  
0154050 Rose hips  
0154060 Mulber ries (blac k and white)  
0154070 Azaroles/Medit erranean medlars  
0154080 Elderber ries  
0154990 Others (2)  
0160000 Miscellaneous fruitswith  
0161000 (a) edible peel  
0161010 Dates 0,3 
0161020 Figs 0,3 
0161030 Table olives 0,7 
0161040 Kumquats 0,3 
0161050 Carambolas 0,3 
0161060 Kak i/Japanese persimmons 0,3 
0161070 Jambuls/jambolans 0,3 
0161990 Others (2) 0,3 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union L 178/10                                                                                                                                           8.6.2020   (1) (2) (3) 
0162000 (b) inedible peel, small 0,3 
0162010 Kiwi fruits (green, red, yellow)  
0162020 Litchi s/lychees  
0162030 Passionfr uits/maracujas  
0162040 Prickly pears/cactus fruits  
0162050 Star apples/cainit os  
0162060 Amer ican persimmons/Virginia kaki  
0162990 Others (2)  
0163000 (c) inedible peel, large 0,3 
0163010 Avocados  
0163020 Bananas  
0163030 Mangoes  
0163040 Papayas  
0163050 Granat e apples/pomegranates  
0163060 Cher imo yas  
0163070 Guavas  
0163080 Pineapples  
0163090 Breadfr uits  
0163100 Dur ians  
0163110 Soursops/guanabanas  
0163990 Others (2)  
0200000 VEGET ABLES, FRESH or FROZEN  
0210000 Root and tuber vegetabl es  
0211000 (a) pota toes 0,05 
0212000 (b) tropical root and tuber vegetables 0,05 
0212010 Cassav a roots/manioc  
0212020 Sweet potatoe s  
0212030 Yams  
0212040 Arrowr oots  
0212990 Others (2)  
0213000 (c) other root and tuber veget ables except sugar beets 0,15 
0213010 Beetroots  
0213020 Carrots  
0213030 Celer iacs/tur nip roote d celer ies  
0213040 Horseradishes  EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 8.6.2020                                                                                                                                          L 178/11   (1) (2) (3) 
0213050 Jerusalem artichok es  
0213060 Parsnips  
0213070 Parsley roots/Hamburg roots parsle y  
0213080 Radishes  
0213090 Salsifi es  
0213100 Swedes/r utabagas  
0213110 Turnips  
0213990 Others (2)  
0220000 Bulb vegetabl es  
0220010 Garlic 0,7 
0220020 Onions 0,5 
0220030 Shallots 0,5 
0220040 Spring onions/green onions and Welsh onions 0,5 
0220990 Others (2) 0,05 
0230000 Fruiting vegetabl es  
0231000 (a) Solanaceae and Malvaceae  
0231010 Tomatoes 0,1 
0231020 Sweet peppers/bell peppers 0,3 
0231030 Aube rgines/eggplants 0,4 
0231040 Okra/lady's fingers 0,1 
0231990 Others (2) 0,1 
0232000 (b) cucurbits with edible peel 0,2 
0232010 Cucumbers  
0232020 Gherkins  
0232030 Courget tes  
0232990 Others (2)  
0233000 (c) cucurbits with inedible peel 0,08 
0233010 Melons  
0233020 Pumpki ns  
0233030 Watermelons  
0233990 Others (2)  
0234000 (d) sweet corn 0,1 
0239000 (e) other fruiting vegetabl es 0,1 
0240000 Brassica vegetabl es(excl uding brassica roots and brassica baby leaf crops)  
0241000 (a) flowering brassica  
0241010 Broccoli 0,4 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union L 178/12                                                                                                                                           8.6.2020   (1) (2) (3) 
0241020 Caulif lowers 0,06 
0241990 Others (2) 0,06 
0242000 (b) head brassica 0,07 
0242010 Brussels sprouts  
0242020 Head cabbages  
0242990 Others (2)  
0243000 (c) leafy brassica  
0243010 Chinese cabbag es/pe-tsai 0,06 
0243020 Kales 0,2 
0243990 Others (2) 0,06 
0244000 (d) kohlrabies 0,06 
0250000 Leaf vegetabl es, herbs and edible flowers 0,7 
0251000 (a) lettuces and salad plants  
0251010 Lamb's lettuces/cor n salads  
0251020 Lettuces  
0251030 Escaroles/broad-lea ved endives  
0251040 Cresses and other sprouts and shoots  
0251050 Land cresses  
0251060 Roman rock et/rucola  
0251070 Red mustards  
0251080 Baby leaf crops (including brassica species)  
0251990 Others (2)  
0252000 (b) spinaches and similar leaves  
0252010 Spinache s  
0252020 Purslanes  
0252030 Chards/beet leav es  
0252990 Others (2)  
0253000 (c) grape leaves and similar species  
0254000 (d) watercresses  
0255000 (e) witloofs/Belgian endiv es  
0256000 (f) herbs and edible flowers  
0256010 Cher vil  
0256020 Chives  
0256030 Celer y leaves  
0256040 Parsley  EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 8.6.2020                                                                                                                                          L 178/13   (1) (2) (3) 
0256050 Sage  
0256060 Rosemar y  
0256070 Thyme  
0256080 Basil and edible flowers  
0256090 Laurel/ba y leav es  
0256100 Tarragon  
0256990 Others (2)  
0260000 Legume vegetables 0,35 
0260010 Beans (with pods)  
0260020 Beans (without pods)  
0260030 Peas (with pods)  
0260040 Peas (without pods)  
0260050 Lentils  
0260990 Others (2)  
0270000 Stem vegetables 0,25 
0270010 Asparagus  
0270020 Cardoons  
0270030 Celer ies  
0270040 Florence fennels  
0270050 Globe artichokes  
0270060 Leek s  
0270070 Rhubarbs  
0270080 Bamboo shoots  
0270090 Palm hear ts  
0270990 Others (2)  
0280000 Fungi, mosses and lichens  
0280010 Cultivated fungi 0,7 
0280020 Wild fungi 0,7 
0280990 Mosses and lichens 0,05 
0290000 Algae and prok aryotes organisms 0,05 
0300000 PULSES 0,35 
0300010 Beans  
0300020 Lentils  
0300030 Peas  
0300040 Lupins /lupini beans  
0300990 Others (2)  EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union L 178/14                                                                                                                                           8.6.2020   (1) (2) (3) 
0400000 OILSEEDS AND OIL FRUITS  
0401000 Oilseeds 0,05 
0401010 Linseeds  
0401020 Peanuts/groundnuts  
0401030 Popp y seeds  
0401040 Sesame seeds  
0401050 Sunf lowe r seeds  
0401060 Rapeseeds/canola seeds  
0401070 Soyabeans  
0401080 Mustard seeds  
0401090 Cott on seeds  
0401100 Pumpki n seeds  
0401110 Saff lower seeds  
0401120 Borage seeds  
0401130 Gold of pleasure seeds  
0401140 Hem p seeds  
0401150 Casto r beans  
0401990 Others (2)  
0402000 Oil fruits 0,7 
0402010 Olives for oil production  
0402020 Oil palms kern els  
0402030 Oil palms fruits  
0402040 Kapok  
0402990 Others (2)  
0500000 CEREALS 0,05 
0500010 Barley  
0500020 Buckwhea t and other pseudocereals  
0500030 Maize/cor n  
0500040 Common millet/proso millet  
0500050 Oat  
0500060 Rice  
0500070 Rye  
0500080 Sorghum  
0500090 Wheat  
0500990 Others (2)  EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 8.6.2020                                                                                                                                          L 178/15   (1) (2) (3) 
0600000 TEAS, COFFEE, HERBAL INFUSIONS, COC OA AND CAROBS 0,05 
0610000 Teas  
0620000 Coffee beans  
0630000 Herbal infusions from  
0631000 (a) flowers  
0631010 Chamomile  
0631020 Hibiscus/roselle  
0631030 Rose  
0631040 Jasmine  
0631050 Lime/linden  
0631990 Others (2)  
0632000 (b) leav es and herbs  
0632010 Stra wber ry  
0632020 Rooibos  
0632030 Mate/ maté  
0632990 Others (2)  
0633000 (c) roots  
0633010 Valerian  
0633020 Ginseng  
0633990 Others (2)  
0639000 (d) any other parts of the plant  
0640000 Cocoa beans  
0650000 Carobs/Saint John's breads  
0700000 HOPS 0,05 
0800000 SPICES  
0810000 Seed spices 0,07 
0810010 Anise/aniseed  
0810020 Black cara way/blac k cumin  
0810030 Celer y  
0810040 Coriander  
0810050 Cumin  
0810060 Dill  
0810070 Fennel  
0810080 Fenugreek  
0810090 Nutmeg  
0810990 Others (2)  EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union L 178/16                                                                                                                                           8.6.2020   (1) (2) (3) 
0820000 Fruit spices 0,07 
0820010 Allspice/pimento  
0820020 Sich uan pepper  
0820030 Carawa y  
0820040 Cardamom  
0820050 Juniper berry  
0820060 Peppercor n (blac k, green and white)  
0820070 Vanilla  
0820080 Tamar ind  
0820990 Others (2)  
0830000 Bark spices 0,07 
0830010 Cinnamon  
0830990 Others (2)  
0840000 Root and rhizome spices  
0840010 Liquor ice 0,07 
0840020 Ginger (10)  
0840030 Turmer ic/curcuma 0,07 
0840040 Horseradish (11)  
0840990 Others (2) 0,07 
0850000 Bud spices 0,07 
0850010 Cloves  
0850020 Capers  
0850990 Others (2)  
0860000 Flower pist il spices 0,07 
0860010 Saffron  
0860990 Others (2)  
0870000 Aril spices 0,07 
0870010 Mace  
0870990 Others (2)  
0900000 SUGAR PLANTS 0,05 
0900010 Sugar beet roots  
0900020 Sugar canes  
0900030 Chicor y roots  
0900990 Others (2)  EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 8.6.2020                                                                                                                                          L 178/17   (1) (2) (3) 
1000000 PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN -TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS  
1010000 Commodities from  
1011000 (a) swine  
1011010 Muscle 0,05 
1011020 Fat 0,1(*) 
1011030 Liver 0,05 
1011040 Kidney 0,05 
1011050 Edible offals (other than liver and kidney) 0,05 
1011990 Others (2) 0,05 
1012000 (b) bovine  
1012010 Muscle 0,05 
1012020 Fat 0,1(*) 
1012030 Liver 0,05 
1012040 Kidney 0,05 
1012050 Edible offals (other than liver and kidney) 0,05 
1012990 Others (2) 0,05 
1013000 (c) sheep  
1013010 Muscle 0,05 
1013020 Fat 0,1(*) 
1013030 Liver 0,05 
1013040 Kidney 0,05 
1013050 Edible offals (other than liver and kidney) 0,05 
1013990 Others (2) 0,05 
1014000 d) goat  
1014010 Muscle 0,05 
1014020 Fat 0,1(*) 
1014030 Liver 0,05 
1014040 Kidney 0,05 
1014050 Edible offals (other than liver and kidney) 0,05 
1014990 Others (2) 0,05 
1015000 (e) equine  
1015010 Muscle 0,05 
1015020 Fat 0,1(*) 
1015030 Liver 0,05 
1015040 Kidney 0,05 EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union L 178/18                                                                                                                                           8.6.2020   (1) (2) (3) 
1015050 Edible offals (other than liver and kidney) 0,05 
1015990 Others (2) 0,05 
1016000 (f) poultr y  
1016010 Muscle 0,05 
1016020 Fat 0,1(*) 
1016030 Liver 0,05 
1016040 Kidney 0,05 
1016050 Edible offals (other than liver and kidney) 0,05 
1016990 Others (2) 0,05 
1017000 (g) other farmed terrestrial animals  
1017010 Muscle 0,05 
1017020 Fat 0,1(*) 
1017030 Liver 0,05 
1017040 Kidney 0,05 
1017050 Edible offals (other than liver and kidney) 0,05 
1017990 Others (2) 0,05 
1020000 Milk 0,1 
1020010 Cattle (+) 
1020020 Sheep (+) 
1020030 Goat (+) 
1020040 Horse (+) 
1020990 Others (2)  
1030000 Birds eggs 0,05 
1030010 Chick en  
1030020 Duck  
1030030 Geese  
1030040 Quail  
1030990 Others (2)  
1040000 Honey and other apiculture products (7) 0,05(*) 
1050000 Amphibians and Reptiles 0,05 
1060000 Terrest rial invertebrate animals 0,05 
1070000 Wild terrest rial vertebrate animals 0,05 
1100000 PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN - FISH, FISHPR ODUCTS AND ANY OTHER 
MARINE AND FRESHW ATER FOOD PRODUCTS (8)  EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union 8.6.2020                                                                                                                                          L 178/19   (1) (2) (3) 
1200000 PRODUCTS OR PART OF PRODUCTS EXCLU SIVEL Y USED FOR ANIMAL 
FEED PRODUCTION (8)  
1300000 PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS (9)  
(*) Limit of analytical deter mination 
(a) For the compl ete list of products of plant and animal origin to which MRLs apply , reference should be made to 
Annex I. 
Chlorate (A) 
(A) To take into account the specif ic situation of chlorate residues, in processed food (including for the purpose of this 
Regulation foodstuffs that have been derived using processes listed in Article 2(1)(n) of Regulation 
(EC) No 852/2004), that has come in contact with products containing chlorate residues, or that contains 
ingredients with such residues, such as processing aids or drinking water , used in compl iance with the respective 
legal requirements, these additional contr ibutions of chlorate residues should be take n into account when 
determining the permitted conte nt of chlorate residues in or on the processed food products in accordance with 
Article 20 (1) of this Regulation. The burden of proof regar ding the level of those additional contr ibutions lies with 
the food and feed business operat or. 
(+) Includes raw milk, heat-treat ed milk and milk for the manuf acture of milk -based products as defined in Regulation 
(EU) No 1308/2013. The MRL applies to milk ready for use (mark eted as such or reconstituted as instr ucted by the 
manuf acturer) 
1020010   Cattle 
(+) Includes raw milk, heat-treated milk and milk for the manufact ure of milk -based products. The MRL applies to milk 
ready for use (market ed as such or reconstitute d as instr ucted by the manufa cturer) 
1020020   Sheep 
1020030   Goat 
1020040   Horse’   EN Offi cial Jour nal of the European Union L 178/20                                                                                                                                           8.6.2020