COMMI SSION REGUL ATION (EU) 2018/73 
of 16 Januar y 2018 
amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of 
the Council as regards maximum residue levels for mercur y compounds in or on certain products 
(Text with EEA relevance) 
THE EUR OPEAN COMMISSION, 
Having regar d 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 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)  For mercur y compounds, maximum residue levels (MRLs) were set in Annex II and Part B of Annex III to 
Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. 
(2)  Council Directive 79/117/EEC prohibit ed the placing on the mark et and use of plant prot ection products 
containing mercur y compo unds. All author isations of plant prote ction products containing mercur y compo unds 
were revok ed and consequently all MRLs were set at the relevant limit of determination (LOD). 
(3)  The Commission received information from food business operat ors and Member States showing the presence of 
mercur y compo unds in several products leading to higher residues than the LOD laid down in Regulation (EC) 
No 396/2005. 
(4)  Recent monitoring data confir ms that residues of mercur y compounds occur in several products at levels higher 
than the LOD. Taking into account the 95th percentile of all the sample results, the follo wing occur rences were 
repor ted: tree nuts at 0,02 mg/kg; fresh herbs at 0,03 mg/kg; cultivated fungi at 0,05 mg/kg; wild fungi at 
0,50 mg/kg, excep t for ceps at 0,90 mg/kg; oilseeds at 0,02 mg/kg; teas, coffe e beans, herbal infusions and cocoa 
beans at 0,02 mg/kg; spices at 0,02 mg/kg, excep t ginger , nutmeg, mace and turmer ic at 0,05 mg/kg; meat at 
0,01 mg/kg, exce pt for meat of wild game animals at 0,015 mg/kg and duck meat (farmed and wild) at 
0,04 mg/kg; animal fat at 0,01 mg/kg; edible offal at 0,02 mg/kg excep t for offal of wild game animals at 
0,025 mg/kg and offal of wild boar at 0,10 mg/kg; milk at 0,01 mg/kg; and hone y at 0,01 mg/kg. 
(5)  As mercur y containing pesticides have been phased out since more than thirty years in the Union, the presence 
of mercur y in food can be considered due to environmental contamination. It is theref ore appropr iate to replace 
the default values with the ones listed in recital 4, thus reflecting environmental backg round of mercur y in 
Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. This will enable national compet ent author ities to take appropr iate enforcement 
action on the basis of realistic MRLs. 
(6)  The Scientifi c Panel on contaminants in the Food Chain (CONT AM Panel) of the European Food Safety Authority, 
hereinaf ter ‘the Auth ority’, adopt ed an opinion on mercur y and meth ylmercur y in food (2). 
(7)  As mercur y compounds occur at low levels in the products liste d in recital 4 and taking into account the 
available consump tion data within the Union, the overall contr ibution to the dietar y exposure is considered low 
and there is no health risk for consumers. The MRLs for those products should be set as temporar y in Annex III 
to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. Those MRLs will be reviewed; the review will take into account the information 
available within 10 years from the publication of this Regulation. 18.1.2018 L 13/8 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     
(1)OJ L 70, 16.3.2005, p. 1. 
(2)EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONT AM); Scientific Opinion on the risk for public health related to the presence of 
mercur y and meth ylmercur y in food. EFSA Jour nal 2012;10(12):2985. [241 pp.]. (8)  The Commission consulted the European Union reference laborat ories for residues of pesticides as rega rds the 
need to adapt the LODs. Those laboratori es concluded that the current LODs should be maintained. 
(9) Based on the opinion of the Authority and taking into account the factors relevant to the matt er under considera ­
tion, the appropr iate modific ations to the MRLs fulfil the requirements of Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) 
No 396/2005. 
(10)  Through the World Trade Organisation, the trading partners of the Union were consulted on the new MRLs and 
their comments have been take n into account. 
(11)  Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 should theref ore be amended according ly. 
(12)  The measures provi ded for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on 
Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGUL ATION: 
Article 1 
Annex es II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation. 
Article 2 
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 State s. 
Done at Brussels, 16 Januar y 2018. 
For the Commission 
The President 
Jean-Claude JUNCK ER  18.1.2018 L 13/9 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     ANNEX 
Annex es II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are amended as follo ws:  
(1) In Annex II, the column for mercur y compo unds is delet ed.  
(2) Annex III is amended as follows: 
(a)  In Part A, the column for mercur y compo unds is added: 
‘Pesticide residues and maximum residue levels (mg/kg) 
Code 
number Groups and examples of individual products to whic h the MRLs apply (a) 
Mercury compounds 
(sum of mercury compounds 
expressed as mercury) 
(1) (2) (3) 
0100000 FRUITS, FRESH or FROZEN; TREE NUTS  
0110000 Citr us fruits 0,01 (*) 
0110010 Grapefr uits  
0110020 Oranges  
0110030 Lemons  
0110040 Limes  
0110050 Mandar ins  
0110990 Others  
0120000 Tree nuts 0,02 (+) 
0120010 Almonds  
0120020 Brazil nuts  
0120030 Cashew nuts  
0120040 Chestnuts  
0120050 Coconuts  
0120060 Hazelnuts/cobnuts  
0120070 Macadamias  
0120080 Pecans  
0120090 Pine nut kernels  
0120100 Pistachios  
0120110 Walnuts  
0120990 Others  
0130000 Pome fruits 0,01 (*) 
0130010 Apples  
0130020 Pears  
0130030 Quinces  
0130040 Medlars  
0130050 Loquats/Japanese medlars  
0130990 Others  18.1.2018 L 13/10 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     (1) (2) (3) 
0140000 Stone fruits 0,01 (*) 
0140010 Apr icots  
0140020 Cher ries (sweet)  
0140030 Peaches  
0140040 Plums  
0140990 Others  
0150000 Berries and small fruits 0,01 (*) 
0151000 (a)  grapes  
0151010 Table grapes  
0151020 Wine grapes  
0152000 (b)  strawber ries  
0153000 (c)  cane fruits  
0153010 Blackberr ies  
0153020 Dewber ries  
0153030 Raspber ries (red and yellow)  
0153990 Others  
0154000 (d)  other small fruits and berries  
0154010 Blueber ries  
0154020 Cranber ries  
0154030 Currants (blac k, red and whit e)  
0154040 Gooseber ries (green, red and yello w)  
0154050 Rose hips  
0154060 Mulber ries (blac k and whit e)  
0154070 Azaroles/Medit erranean medlars  
0154080 Elderber ries  
0154990 Others  
0160000 Miscellaneous fruits with 0,01 (*) 
0161000 (a)  edible peel  
0161010 Dates  
0161020 Figs  
0161030 Table olives  
0161040 Kumquats  
0161050 Carambolas  
0161060 Kak i/Japanese persimmons  
0161070 Jambuls/jambolans  
0161990 Others  
0162000 (b)  inedible peel, small  
0162010 Kiwi fruits (green, red, yello w)  
0162020 Litchi s/lychees  
0162030 Passionfr uits/maracujas  
0162040 Prickly pears/cactus fruits  18.1.2018 L 13/11 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     (1) (2) (3) 
0162050 Star apples/cainitos  
0162060 Amer ican persimmons/Virginia kaki  
0162990 Others  
0163000 (c)  inedible peel, large  
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  
0200000 VEGET ABLES, FRESH or FROZEN  
0210000 Root and tuber vegetabl es 0,01 (*) 
0211000 (a)  potatoes  
0212000 (b)  tropical root and tuber vegetables  
0212010 Cassav a roots/manioc  
0212020 Sweet potatoes  
0212030 Yams  
0212040 Arrowroots  
0212990 Others  
0213000 (c)  other root and tuber vegetables except sugar beets  
0213010 Beetroots  
0213020 Carrots  
0213030 Celer iacs/tur nip roote d celer ies  
0213040 Horseradishes  
0213050 Jerusalem artichokes  
0213060 Parsnips  
0213070 Parsley roots/Hamburg roots parsley  
0213080 Radishes  
0213090 Salsifi es  
0213100 Swedes/r utabagas  
0213110 Turnips  
0213990 Others  
0220000 Bulb vegetables 0,01 (*) 
0220010 Garlic  
0220020 Onions  
0220030 Shallots  
0220040 Spring onions/green onions and Welsh onions  
0220990 Others  18.1.2018 L 13/12 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     (1) (2) (3) 
0230000 Fruiting vegetables 0,01 (*) 
0231000 (a)  solanacea  
0231010 Tomatoes  
0231020 Sweet peppers/bell peppers  
0231030 Aube rgines/eggplants  
0231040 Okra/lady's fingers  
0231990 Others  
0232000 (b)  cucurbits with edible peel  
0232010 Cucumbers  
0232020 Gherkins  
0232030 Courge ttes  
0232990 Others  
0233000 (c)  cucurbits with inedible peel  
0233010 Melons  
0233020 Pumpki ns  
0233030 Watermelons  
0233990 Others  
0234000 (d)  sweet corn  
0239000 (e)  other fruiting vegetables  
0240000 Brassica veget ables (excl uding brassica roots and brassica baby leaf crops) 0,01 (*) 
0241000 (a)  flower ing brassica  
0241010 Broccoli  
0241020 Caulif lowers  
0241990 Others  
0242000 (b)  head brassica  
0242010 Brussels sprouts  
0242020 Head cabbag es  
0242990 Others  
0243000 (c)  leafy brassica  
0243010 Chinese cabbag es/pe-tsai  
0243020 Kales  
0243990 Others  
0244000 (d)  kohlr abies  
0250000 Leaf veget ables, herbs and edible flowers  
0251000 (a)  lettuces and salad plants 0,01 (*) 
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  18.1.2018 L 13/13 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     (1) (2) (3) 
0251060 Roman rock et/rucola  
0251070 Red mustards  
0251080 Baby leaf crops (including brassica species)  
0251990 Others  
0252000 (b)  spinaches and similar leaves 0,01 (*) 
0252010 Spinache s  
0252020 Purslanes  
0252030 Chards/beet leav es  
0252990 Others  
0253000 (c)  grape leaves and similar species 0,01 (*) 
0254000 (d)  watercr esses 0,01 (*) 
0255000 (e)  witloofs/Bel gian endiv es 0,01 (*) 
0256000 (f)  herbs and edible flowers 0,03 (+) 
0256010 Cher vil  
0256020 Chives  
0256030 Celer y leaves  
0256040 Parsley  
0256050 Sage  
0256060 Rosemar y  
0256070 Thyme  
0256080 Basil and edible flowers  
0256090 Laurel/ba y leav e  
0256100 Tarragon  
0256990 Others  
0260000 Legume vegetabl es 0,01 (*) 
0260010 Beans (with pods)  
0260020 Beans (without pods)  
0260030 Peas (with pods)  
0260040 Peas (without pods)  
0260050 Lentils  
0260990 Others  
0270000 Stem vegetabl es 0,01 (*) 
0270010 Asparagus  
0270020 Cardoons  
0270030 Celer ies  
0270040 Florence fennels  
0270050 Globe artichok es  
0270060 Leek s  
0270070 Rhubarbs  
0270080 Bamboo shoots  
0270090 Palm hear ts  
0270990 Others  18.1.2018 L 13/14 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     (1) (2) (3) 
0280000 Fungi, mosses and lichens  
0280010 Cultivated fungi 0,05 (+) 
0280020 Wild fungi 0,5 (+) 
0280990 Mosses and liche ns 0,01 (*) 
0290000 Algae and prokar yotes organisms 0,01 (*) 
0300000 PULSES 0,01 (*) 
0300010 Beans  
0300020 Lentils  
0300030 Peas  
0300040 Lupins/lupini beans  
0300990 Others  
0400000 OILSEEDS AND OIL FRUITS  
0401000 Oilseeds 0,02 (+) 
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 Cotton seeds  
0401100 Pumpkin seeds  
0401110 Saff lower seeds  
0401120 Borage seeds  
0401130 Gold of pleasure seeds  
0401140 Hem p seeds  
0401150 Casto r beans  
0401990 Others  
0402000 Oil fruits  
0402010 Olives for oil production 0,01 (*) 
0402020 Oil palms kernels 0,02 (*) 
0402030 Oil palms fruits 0,02 (*) 
0402040 Kapok 0,02 (*) 
0402990 Others 0,02 (*) 
0500000 CEREALS 0,01 (*) 
0500010 Barley  
0500020 Buckwheat and other pseudo-cereals  
0500030 Maize/cor n  
0500040 Common millet/proso millet  
0500050 Oat  
0500060 Rice  
0500070 Rye  18.1.2018 L 13/15 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     (1) (2) (3) 
0500080 Sorghum  
0500090 Wheat  
0500990 Others  
0600000 TEAS, COFFEE, HERBAL INFUSIONS, COCO A AND CAROBS  
0610000 Teas 0,02 (+) 
0620000 Cof fee beans 0,02 (+) 
0630000 Herbal infusions from 0,02 (+) 
0631000 (a)  flowers  
0631010 Chamomile  
0631020 Hibiscus/roselle  
0631030 Rose  
0631040 Jasmine  
0631050 Lime/linden  
0631990 Others  
0632000 (b)  leaves and herbs  
0632010 Stra wber ry  
0632020 Rooibos  
0632030 Mate/ maté  
0632990 Others  
0633000 (c)  roots  
0633010 Valerian  
0633020 Ginseng  
0633990 Others  
0639000 (d)  any other parts of the plant  
0640000 Cocoa beans 0,02 (+) 
0650000 Carobs/Saint John's breads 0,02 (*) 
0700000 HOPS 0,02 (*) 
0800000 SPICES (+) 
0810000 Seed spices  
0810010 Anise/aniseed 0,02 
0810020 Black carawa y/blac k cumin 0,02 
0810030 Celer y 0,02 
0810040 Coriander 0,02 
0810050 Cumin 0,02 
0810060 Dill 0,02 
0810070 Fennel 0,02 
0810080 Fenugreek 0,02 
0810090 Nutmeg 0,05 
0810990 Others 0,02 18.1.2018 L 13/16 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     (1) (2) (3) 
0820000 Fruit spices 0,02 
0820010 Allspice/pimento  
0820020 Sichua n pepper  
0820030 Carawa y  
0820040 Cardamom  
0820050 Juniper berry  
0820060 Peppercor n (blac k, green and whit e)  
0820070 Vanilla  
0820080 Tamar ind  
0820990 Others  
0830000 Bark spices 0,02 
0830010 Cinnamon  
0830990 Others  
0840000 Root and rhizome spices  
0840010 Liquor ice 0,02 
0840020 Ginger 0,05 
0840030 Turmer ic/curcuma 0,05 
0840040 Horseradish  
0840990 Others 0,02 
0850000 Bud spices 0,02 
0850010 Cloves  
0850020 Capers  
0850990 Others  
0860000 Flower pistil spices 0,02 
0860010 Saffron  
0860990 Others  
0870000 Aril spices  
0870010 Mace 0,05 
0870990 Others 0,02 
0900000 SUGAR PLANTS 0,01 (*) 
0900010 Sugar beet roots  
0900020 Sugar canes  
0900030 Chicor y roots  
0900990 Others  
1000000 PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN -TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS  
1010000 Tissues from  
1011000 (a)  swine (+) 
1011010 Muscle 0,01 
1011020 Fat tissue 0,01 
1011030 Liver 0,02 18.1.2018 L 13/17 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     (1) (2) (3) 
1011040 Kidney 0,02 
1011050 Edible offals (other than liver and kidne y) 0,02 
1011990 Others 0,01 (*) 
1012000 (b)  bovine (+) 
1012010 Muscle 0,01 
1012020 Fat tissue 0,01 
1012030 Liver 0,02 
1012040 Kidney 0,02 
1012050 Edible offals (other than liver and kidne y) 0,02 
1012990 Others 0,01 (*) 
1013000 (c)  sheep (+) 
1013010 Muscle 0,01 
1013020 Fat tissue 0,01 
1013030 Liver 0,02 
1013040 Kidney 0,02 
1013050 Edible offals (other than liver and kidne y) 0,02 
1013990 Others 0,01 (*) 
1014000 (d)  goat (+) 
1014010 Muscle 0,01 
1014020 Fat tissue 0,01 
1014030 Liver 0,02 
1014040 Kidney 0,02 
1014050 Edible offals (other than liver and kidne y) 0,02 
1014990 Others 0,01 (*) 
1015000 (e)  equine (+) 
1015010 Muscle 0,01 
1015020 Fat tissue 0,01 
1015030 Liver 0,02 
1015040 Kidney 0,02 
1015050 Edible offals (other than liver and kidne y) 0,02 
1015990 Others 0,01 (*) 
1016000 (f)  poultr y  
1016010 Muscle 0,01 (+) 
1016020 Fat tissue 0,01 (+) 
1016030 Liver 0,02 (+) 
1016040 Kidney 0,02 (+) 
1016050 Edible offals (other than liver and kidne y) 0,02 (+) 
1016990 Others 0,01 (*) 
1017000 (g)  other farmed terrestrial animals (+) 
1017010 Muscle 0,01 
1017020 Fat tissue 0,01 
1017030 Liver 0,02 18.1.2018 L 13/18 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     (1) (2) (3) 
1017040 Kidney 0,02 
1017050 Edible offals (other than liver and kidne y) 0,02 
1017990 Others 0,01 (*) 
1020000 Milk 0,01 (+) 
1020010 Cattle  
1020020 Sheep  
1020030 Goat  
1020040 Horse  
1020990 Others  
1030000 Birds eggs 0,01 (*) 
1030010 Chick en  
1030020 Duck  
1030030 Geese  
1030040 Quail  
1030990 Others  
1040000 Honey and other apiculture products 0,01 (+) 
1050000 Amphibians and Reptiles 0,01 (*) 
1060000 Terrestrial invertebrate animals 0,01 (*) 
1070000 Wild terrestr ial vertebrate animals 0,04 (+) 
(*)  Limit of analytical determination 
(a)  For the complet e list of products of plant and animal origin to which MRLs apply , reference should be made to Annex I. 
(F)  =Fat soluble 
Mercur y compounds (sum of mercur y compounds expressed as mercur y) 
(+)  Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission 
will take into account the information avai lable within 10 years from the date of publication. 
0120000  Tree nuts 
0256000  (f)  herbs and edible flowers 
0280010  Cultivated fungi 
(+)  The following MRL applies to ceps: 0,9 mg/kg. Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. 
When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information avail able within 10 years from the date of 
publication. 
0280020  Wild fungi 
(+)  Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission 
will take into account the information avai lable within 10 years from the date of publication. 
0401000  Oilseeds 
0610000  Teas 
0620000  Cof fee beans 
0630000  Herbal infusions from 
0640000  Cocoa beans 
0800000  SPICES 
(+)  The applicable maximum residue level for horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) in the spice group (code 0840040) is the one set 
for horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) in the Veget ables category , root and tuber vegetables group (code 0213040) taking into 
account changes in the levels by processing (drying) according to Art. 20 (1) of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. 
0840040  Horseradish  18.1.2018 L 13/19 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN     (+)  Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission 
will take into account the information avai lable within 10 years from the date of publication. 
1011000  (a)  Tissues from swine 
1012000  (b)  Tissues from bovine 
1013000  (c)  Tissues from sheep 
1014000  (d)  Tissues from goat 
1015000  (e)  Tissues from equine 
(+) The follo wing MRL applies to duck meat: 0,04 mg/kg. Monitorin g data show that residues occur due to environmental contami ­
nation. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information avail able within 10 years from the 
date of publication. 
1016010  Muscle (poultr y) 
(+)  Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission 
will take into account the information avai lable within 10 years from the date of publication. 
1016020  Fat tissue (poultr y) 
1016030  Liver (poultr y) 
1016040  Kidney (poultr y) 
1016050  Edible offals (poultr y) 
1017000  (g)  Tissues from other farmed terrestr ial animals 
1020000  Milk 
1040000  Honey and other apiculture products 
(+)  The follo wing MRL applies to offal of wild boar: 0,1 mg/kg. Monitorin g data show that residues occur due to environmental 
contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information avai lable within 10 years 
from the date of publication. 
1070000  Wild terrestr ial vertebrate animals’                                                                                                                                                                    
(b)  In Part B, the column for mercur y compounds is delet ed.  18.1.2018 L 13/20 Official Jour nal of the European Union EN