WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/EU/16 
11 April 2012  
 (12-1868) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
 
 
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  EUROPEAN UNION 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  European Commission, Health and Consumers Directorate-General  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(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 plan t 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 MRLs in Annexes to the "Draft Commission 
Regulation (EU) amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the 
European Parliament and of the Council as rega rds maximum residue levels for bifenazate, 
captan, cyprodinil, fluopicolide, hexythiazox, isoprothiolane, metaldehyde, oxadixyl and 
phosmet in or on certain products "   Language(s):  English   Number of pages:  16 
 http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2012/sps/EEC/12_1255_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  Proposed maximum residue levels (MRLs) in certain 
commodities are increased. Highe r MRLs are set to accommodate uses in the European 
Union and in third countries which export those commodities to the European Union. 
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 stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health 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 G/SPS/N/EU/16 
Page 2  
 
   If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  The European Food Safety Authority published reasoned 
opinions on the MRLs.  Based on these opinions the Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 should therefore be amended. 
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:  "Regulation 
(EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament  and of the Council of 23 February 2005 on 
maximum residue levels of pestic ides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin and 
amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC". " http://eur-
lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ. do?uri=CONSLEG:2005R0 396:20080410:EN:PDF " 
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA ) scientific reports are available online: 
- Modification of the existing MRLs for bife nazate in currants (red, black and white), 
blackberries and raspberries:  http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2577.htm  
- Modification of the existing MRLs for captan in certain berries:  
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2452.htm  
- Modification of the existing MRLs for cyprodinil in various leafy crops:  
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2509.htm  
- Modification of the existing MRLs for fluopico lide in radishes, onions, kale and potatoes:  
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2581.htm  
- Modification of the existing MRL for hexythiazox in tea:  
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2514.htm  
- Modification of the existing MRLs for metaldehyde in various crops: 
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2515.htm  
- Modification of the existing MRLs for oxadixyl in parsley, celery and leek:  
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2565.htm  
- Modification of the existing MR Ls for phosmet in various crops:  
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/2582.htm  
(available in English) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  July 2012 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  October 2012 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  November 2012 - On the twentieth day following that of its publication in the 
Official Journal of the European Union. 
[X] Trade facilitating measure    G/SPS/N/EU/16 
 Page 3 
 
 
  12. Final date for comments:  [X] Sixty days  from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  10 June 2012.  Comments welc ome only to update MRLs 
(in bold in attached annexes). 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
European Commission 
DG Health and Consumers, Unit G6 - Multilateral international relations 
Rue Froissart 101 B 1049 Brussels Tel:  +(32 2) 29 68185/59922 Fax: +(32 2) 2998090 
E-mail:  sps@ec.europa.eu 
13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
European Commission  
DG Health and Consumers, Unit G6 - Multilateral international relations 
Rue Froissart 101 B 1049 Brussels 
Tel: +32 (0) 2 29 68185/59922 
Fax: +32 (0) 2 2998090 Email: sps@ec.europa.eu