EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 65/254

(2004/C 65 E/269)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2987/03

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(9 October 2003)

Subject: Inadequate monitoring of maximum residue levels (MRL) of toxic substances and combinations of toxic substances in nectarines and grapes originating in the EU

1. Is the Commission aware that research carried out by the Dutch organisations Stichting Natuur en Milieu (‘Nature and Environment Foundation’), Vereiniging Milieudefensie (‘Association for the Defence of the Environment’) and the alternative consumers' association Goede Waar & Co (‘Good Produce & Co’) has revealed excessively high levels of toxic residues and of even more dangerous combinations of toxic substances in nectarines and grapes from Spain, Italy and Greece, all EU Member States, which are principally sold in branches of stores run by international practitioners of predatory pricing?

2. Has the Commission paid particular attention to fruit which is eaten unpeeled and from which, therefore, any toxic substances remaining are introduced into the human digestive system in greater concentrations than from peeled fruit?

3. Can the Commission confirm that the treatment with toxic substances of fruit trees and bushes in the EU is increasing again, as is the possibility of the presence of toxic substances in fruit imported from inside or outside the EU?

4. According to the current findings of national and Community-coordinated programmes to monitor residue levels of pesticides in cereals, vegetables and fruit respectively, by what percentage is the maximum residue level (MRL) presently being exceeded?

5. What are the Commission and the Member States doing — with the assistance of the Rapid Alert System and with the application of harmonised guidelines — to bring about further improvements in Member States' notification of pesticide-residue MRLs in food of vegetable origin and to intervene regularly with a view to providing all consumers in the EU with maximum protection?

6. Is the Commission intending to take supplementary measures in order to put a stop to any possible decline in food safety and to improve monitoring of food safety standards?

Source: the 24 September 2003 edition of ‘De Volkskrant’, a Dutch newspaper

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(19 November 2003)

The Commission is not aware of the research mentioned by the Honourable Member.

In the risk assessment performed when setting Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs), and when evaluating findings in the framework of the Rapid Alert System for Foodstuffs, the Commission makes a distinction between fruit that is consumed with the peel and fruit consumed without the peel.

In the Community coordinated report on Pesticide Residues, available on the Commission website, the percentage of violations of MRLs varies between 2 and 5 percent. There is no significant trend pointing to an increase of incorrect uses of plant protection products either in or outside the Community.

The results of the latest Community coordinated report for the year 2001 shows an average of 3,9 % of violations, ranging in the Member States between 1,3 and 9,1 percent.

It should be noted that MRLs are not toxicological limits and a violation of a MRL is not necessarily a food safety issue. MRLs are set, based on (i) evidence that the correct use of a plant protection product leads to a residue on the harvested produce and (ii) that the presence of this residue does not lead to a risk to the consumer. In most cases the MRL represents a level that is significantly below the level of concern. When, in the framework of the Rapid Alert System for Foodstuffs an MRL violation is notified, a risk assessment is carried out. If an immediate risk to the consumer is established, an Alert notification is issued. The Commission, through the Food and Veterinary Office, systematically addresses the issue of notifications when making inspections in the Member States.

In addition, the Commission proposal for a Regulation of the Parliament and of the Council on the setting of maximum residues limits in food (1) includes proposals to increase monitoring and control measures in the Member States.

(1) COM(2003) 117 final.