. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/GEN/1091 
20 June 2011  
 
(11-3026) 
 Original:   Spanish 
  
 
MAXIMUM RESIDUE LIMITS FOR CERTAIN AGRICULTURAL 
PESTICIDES APPLIED TO SESAME 
 
Communication from Paraguay 
 
 
 The following communication, received on 16 June 2011, is being circulated at the request of 
the delegation of Paraguay. 
 
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 1. Paraguay is concerned about the application by  Japan of restrictive maximum residue limits 
(MRLs) to sesame, and the effects of those limits on trade in this and other products.  MRLs for any 
product should be set on the basis of scientific  evidence and should be applied in the least 
trade-restrictive manner possible. 
2. The MRLs applied to sesame are more restric tive than for other similar products, and for 
many active ingredients the MRLs are fixed as unifo rm limits.  MRLs should be established in the 
light of international regulations, acceptable daily in take levels, and levels of exposure through food 
products.  Consequently, setting un iform limits is inconsistent with the principles of the 
WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. 
3. In the case of the agricultural pesticides imid acloprid and carbaryl, the MRLs for sesame are 
set as uniform limits.  However, for other products , such as grapefruit, groundnuts and broccoli, the 
MRLs are higher.  It should be noted that neither  of the two pesticides is included in the MRL table 
for sesame drawn up by the Japan Food Chemical Research Foundation.  According to Japanese 
regulations and notification No. 497/2005 of the Mini stry of Health of Japan, the uniform tolerance 
limit for pesticides that are not listed in the table is 0.01 ppm. 
4. Sesame is of vital social and economic im portance for Paraguay:  some 500,000 rural 
inhabitants are involved in its production, which to tals approximately 50,000 tonnes.  At the same 
time, the Japanese market is the main destination market, accounti ng for 80 per cent of Paraguayan 
exports.  Over the past five years, Paraguay has b een one of the leading suppliers of sesame to Japan. 
5. The competent authorities, together with the expor ters, are taking steps to ensure the safety of 
sesame by implementing the technical regulati ons governing the identity and quality of sesame 
(National Plant and Seed Quality and Health Se rvice (SENAVE) Resolution 016/10), conducting risk 
mitigation programmes, introducing good agricultural practices w ith training of producers, and 
establishing a system of traceability for sesame production. 
6. The MRLs applied to sesame in Japan are very restrictive, bearing in mind that according to 
the table of the Japan Food Chemical Research Fo undation, less stringent MRLs are applied to other 
mass consumption products.  We ther efore urge Japan to revise this measure in such a way as to avoid 
interrupting the existing flow of trade while still en suring that there is no risk to consumer health. G/SPS/GEN/1091 
Page 2  
 
  7. We would also ask the Government of Japan to consider the international legislation in force 
for carbaryl and imidacloprid used on similar crops, and include them in the food MRL table for sesame with less stringent limits. 
8. Finally, Paraguay would like to stress its good re lations and its close bilateral ties with Japan, 
and hopes to continue developing its trade w ith Japan to the benefit of both countries. 
 
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