COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 822/2009
of 27 August 2009
amending Annexes II, III and IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for azoxystrobin, atrazine, chlormequat, cyprodinil, dithiocarbamates, fludioxonil, fluroxypyr, indoxacarb, mandipropamid, potassium tri-iodide, spirotetramat, tetraconazole, and thiram in or on certain products
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 February 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 5(1) and Article 14 (1) (a) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
For azoxystrobin, atrazine, chlormequat, cyprodinil, dithiocarbamates, indoxacarb, fluroxypyr, tetraconazole and thiram maximum residue levels (MRLs) were set in Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. For fludioxonil, mandipropamid and spirotetramat MRLs were set in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. For potassium tri-iodide no specific MRLs were set nor was the substance included in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.
(2)
In the context of a procedure, in accordance with Council Directive 91/414/EEC of 15 July 1991 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market (2), for the authorisation of a plant protection product containing the active substance cyprodinil for the use on herbs, beet leaves, beet roots and spinach, an application was made under Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 for modifications of the existing MRLs in Annex II and III.
(3)
As regards mancozeb (dithiocarbamates), such an application was made for the use on garlic. As regards indoxacarb, such an application was made for the use on raspberries, blackberries and Brussels sprouts. As regards fludioxonil, such an application was made for the use on carrots, beet roots, parsnips, horseradish, onions, salsify, parsley root, spinach and beet leaves. As regards fluroxypyr, such an application was made for the use on leeks. As regards mandipropamid, such as application was made for the use on red mustard, leaves and sprouts of brassica, spinach, purslane and beet leaves. As regards spirotetramat, such an application was made for the use on citrus fruit, pome fruit, apricots, peaches and grapes. As regards tetraconazole, such an application was made for the use on apricots.
(4)
In accordance with Article 6(2) and (4) of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 applications for import tolerances were made for azoxystrobin on passion fruits, cyprodinil and fludioxonil on roots of herbal infusions and spices, fluroxypyr on tea and coffee beans, potassium tri-iodide on bananas, melons and grapes and thiram on bananas.
(5)
As regards chlormequat an application was made by a Member State to prolong the existing time limited MRL in Annex II for pears, based on the occurrence of chlormequat in the environment.
(6)
In accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, these applications were evaluated by the Member States concerned and the evaluation reports were forwarded to the Commission.
(7)
The European Food Safety Authority, hereinafter ‘the Authority’, assessed the applications and the evaluation reports, examining in particular the risks to the consumer and where relevant to animals and gave reasoned opinions on the proposed MRLs. It forwarded these opinions to the Commission and the Member States and made them available to the public (3).
(8)
The Authority concluded in its reasoned opinions that all requirements with respect to data were met and that the modifications to the MRLs requested by the applicants were acceptable with regard to consumer safety on the basis of a consumer exposure assessment for 27 specific European consumer groups. It took into account the most recent information on the toxicological properties of the substances. Neither the lifetime exposure to these substances via consumption of all food products that may contain these substances, nor the short term exposure due to extreme consumption of the relevant crops showed that there is a risk that the acceptable daily intake (ADI) or the acute reference dose (ARfD) is exceeded.
(9)
As regards potassium tri-iodide, the Authority concluded that the inclusion of this substance in Annex IV is acceptable with regard to consumer safety.
(10)
As regards atrazine, for cereals a temporary MRL was fixed until 1 June 2009, pending submission of data by the applicant to confirm the exact level of residues.
(11)
The applicant has recently submitted such data. As no risk for consumers has been identified, it is appropriate to prolong the validity of the temporary MRL for one year in order to allow the Authority to evaluate those data.
(12)
Based on the reasoned opinions of the Authority and taking into account the factors relevant to the matter under consideration, the requested modifications to the MRLs fulfil the requirements of Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.
(13)
Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(14)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health and neither the European Parliament nor the Council has opposed them,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Annexes II, III and IV 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 day following 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, 27 August 2009.