Recommendation of the EFTA surveillance authority No 55/04/COL of 30 March 2004 concerning a coordinated monitoring programme for 2004 to ensure compliance with maximum levels of pesticide residues in and on cereals and certain other products of plant origin
Date: 2004-03-30
Institutions: EFTA Surveillance Authority
Subjects: food inspection, food safety, pesticide residue

L 139/20

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Official Journal of the European Union

2.6.2005

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY

RECOMMENDATION OF THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY

No 55/04/COL

of 30 March 2004

concerning a coordinated monitoring programme for 2004 to ensure compliance with maximum
levels of pesticide residues in and on cereals and certain other products of plant origin

THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic
Area (EEA), and in particular Article 109 and Protocol 1
thereof,

Having regard to the Agreement between the EFTA States on
the establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of
Justice, and in particular Article 5(2)(b) and Protocol 1 thereof,

to the EEA Agreement

Having regard to the Act referred to at point 38 of Chapter XII
of Annex II
(Council Directive
86/362/EEC of 24 July 1986 on the fixing of maximum
levels for pesticide residues in and on cereals (1)), as last
amended and adapted to the EEA Agreement by Protocol 1
thereto, and in particular Article 7(2)(b) thereof,

to the EEA Agreement

Having regard to the Act referred to at point 54 in Chapter XII
(Council Directive
of Annex II
90/642/EEC of 27 November 1990 on the
fixing of
in and on certain
maximum levels
products of plant origin, including fruit and vegetables (2)), as
last amended and adapted to the EEA Agreement by Protocol 1
thereto, and in particular Article 4(2)(b) thereof,

for pesticide residues

After consulting the EFTA Foodstuffs Committee assisting the
EFTA Surveillance Authority,

Whereas:

(1)

The EFTA Surveillance Authority should progressively
work towards a system which would permit the esti-

mation of dietary exposure to actual pesticides. To make
realistic estimations possible, data on the monitoring of
pesticide residues should be available in a number of
food products which constitute major components of
the European diet. It is generally recognised that major
components of
the European diet are constituted by
some 20 to 30 food products. In view of the resources
for pesticide residue moni-
available at national
toring,
to analyse
samples of eight products each year within a coordinated
monitoring programme. Pesticide uses show changes
within the timescale of
the three-year period. Each
pesticide should thus generally be monitored in 20 to
30 food products over a series of three-year cycles.

the EFTA States are only able

level

(2)

Residues of all the pesticides covered by this Recommen-
dation should be monitored in 2004, as this will allow
using these data for the estimation of actual dietary
exposure to them.

A systematic statistical approach to numbers of samples
to be taken in each coordinated monitoring exercise is
necessary. Such an approach has been set out by the
Commission of the Codex Alimentarius (3). Based on a
binomial probability distribution it can be calculated that
examination of about 650 samples gives a confidence of
more than 99 % for detecting one sample containing
pesticide residues above the limit of determination
(LOD) where less than 1 % of products of plant origin
contain residues above the LOD. These samples should
be taken across the European Economic Area. For the
EFTA States it is recommended, on the basis of popu-
lation and consumer numbers, to take a minimum of 12
samples per product and per year.

(1) OJ L 221, 7.8.1986, p. 37.
(2) OJ L 350, 14.12.1990, p. 71.

(3) Codex Alimentarius, Pesticide Residues in Foodstuffs, Rome 1994,

ISBN 92-5-203271-1; Vol.2, p. 372.

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(3)

(4)

(5)

A new guideline concerning Quality Control Procedures
for Pesticide Residue Analysis has been published by the
European Commission (1). These guidelines should be
implemented as far as possible by the analytical labora-
the EFTA States and should be reviewed
tories of
continuously in the light of experience gained in the
monitoring programmes.

(i)

inspection programmes.

Article 4(2)(a) of Directive 90/642/EEC and Article
7(2)(a) of Directive 86/362/EEC require the EFTA States
to specify the criteria applied in drawing up their
national
Such information
should include:
the criteria applied in determining
the numbers of samples to be taken and analyses to be
carried out and the reporting levels applied and the
criteria by which the reporting levels have been fixed;
(ii) details of accreditation under the Act referred to at
point 54n of Chapter XII of Annex II
to the EEA
Agreement (Council Directive 93/99/EEC of 29 October
1993 on the subject of additional measures concerning
the official control of foodstuffs (2)) of the laboratories
carrying out analyses; (iii) the number and type of infrin-
gements and the action taken.

Information on the results of monitoring programmes is
particularly appropriate for treatment, storage and trans-
mission by electronic/informatic methods. Formats have
been developed for supply of data by e-mail from the EC
Member States to the Commission. The EFTA States
could use the same format and should therefore be
able to send their reports to the EFTA Surveillance
Authority in the standard format. The further devel-
opment of such a standard format is most effectively
undertaken by the development of guidelines,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS THE EFTA STATES TO:

should also be subjected to individual analysis of the indi-
vidual units in the second laboratory sample in case such
pesticides are detected and particularly if it is the produce of
a single producer. The number of units should be in line
with the Act referred to at point 54zz of Chapter XII of
Annex II
(Commission Directive
2002/63/EC of 11 July 2002 establishing Community
methods of sampling for the official control of pesticide
residues in and on products of plant and animal origin
and repealing Directive 79/700/EEC (3)).

to the EEA Agreement

Two samples should be taken. If the first laboratory sample
contains a detectable residue of a targeted pesticide, the units
of the second sample should be analysed individually.

2. Report the results of the analysis of samples tested for the
product/pesticide residue combinations set out in the Annex
to this Recommendation, by 31 August 2005 at the latest,
indicating:

(a)

analytical methods used and reporting levels
control
in the quality control procedures

the
achieved,
procedures set out
for pesticide residue analysis;

in accordance with the quality

(b) the number and type of infringements and the action

taken.

The report should be produced in a format, including the
electronic format, conforming to the guidance (4) to the EEA
States with regard to implementation of recommendations
concerning coordinated monitoring programmes.

1. Sample and analyse for the product/pesticide residue combi-
in the Annex to this Recommendation,
nations set out
taking a minimum of 12 samples of each product and
reflecting as appropriate, national, EEA and third country
share of the EFTA State’s market.

3. Send to the EFTA Surveillance Authority and to the EFTA
States, by 31 August 2004 at the latest, all the information
as required by Article 7(3) of Directive 86/362/EEC and
Article 4(3) of Directive 90/642/EEC concerning the 2003
monitoring exercise to ensure, at least by check sampling,
compliance with maximum pesticide residue levels including:

Preferably for pesticides posing an acute risk, e.g. OP-esters,
endosulfan and N-methylcarbamates, selected samples of the
leek and head cabbage
products: apples, tomatoes,

lettuce,

(a)

the results of
pesticide residues;

their national programmes concerning

(1) Doc. No SANCO/10476/2003, http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/

plant/protection/resources/qualcontrol_en.pdf

(2) OJ L 290, 24.11.1993, p. 14.

(3) OJ L 187, 16.7.2002, p. 30.
(4) Presented to and taken note of in the Standing Committee on the

Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) every year.

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laboratories’

(b) information on their

in particular,

control
quality
information concerning
procedures and,
aspects of
the guidelines concerning quality control
procedures for pesticide residue analysis which they
have not been able to apply or have had difficulty in
applying;

(c)

information on accreditation in accordance with the
provisions
of Article 3 of Directive 93/99/EEC
(including type of accreditation, accreditation body and
copy of accreditation certificate) of
the laboratories
carrying out the analyses;

(d)

information about the proficiency tests and ring tests in
which the laboratory has participated.

4. Send to the EFTA Surveillance Authority, by 30 September
2004 at the latest, their intended national programme for
monitoring maximum pesticide residue levels
fixed by
Directives 90/642/EEC and 86/362/EEC for the year 2005,
including information on:

(a)

(b)

(c)

the criteria applied in determining the number of
samples to be taken and analyses to be carried out;

the reporting levels applied and the criteria by which
the reporting levels have been fixed;

details of accreditation, under Directive 93/99/EEC, of
the laboratories carrying out analyses.

This Recommendation is addressed to Iceland, Liechtenstein and
Norway.

Done at Brussels, 30 March 2004.

For the EFTA Surveillance Authority

Bernd HAMMERMANN
College Member

Niels FENGER
Director

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ANNEX

Pesticide/product combinations to be monitored

Pesticide residue to be analysed for

Year

2004

2005 (*)

2006 (*)

Acephate

Aldicarb

Azinphos-methyl

Azoxystrobin

Benomyl group

Bromopropylate

Captan

Chlorothalonil

Chlorpyriphos

Chlorpyriphos-methyl

Cypermethrin

Cyprodinil

Deltamethrin

Diazinon

Dichlofluanid

Dicofol

Dimethoate

Diphenylamine (**)

Endosulfan

Fenhexamid

Folpet

Imazalil

Iprodione

Kresoxim-methyl

Lambda-cyhalothrin

Malathion

Maneb group

Mecarbam

Methamidophos

Metalaxyl

Methidathion

Methiocarb

Methomyl

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

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Pesticide residue to be analysed for

Year

2004

2005 (*)

2006 (*)

Myclobutanil

Omethoate

Oxydemeton-methyl

Parathion

Permethrin

Phorate

Pirimiphos-methyl

Procymidone

Propyzamide

Spiroxamine

Thiabendazole

Tolylfluanid

Triazophos

Vinclozolin

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(c)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(a)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

(b)

Indicative for 2005 and 2006, subject to programmes which will be recommended for these years.

(*)
(**) Diphenylamine should be analysed in apples and pears only.
(a)
(b) Cauliflower, peppers, wheat, aubergines, rice, grapes, cucumber, peas (fresh/frozen, without pod).
(c) Apples, tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, leek, orange juice, head cabbage, rye/oats.

Pears, bananas, beans (fresh or frozen), potatoes, carrots, oranges/mandarines, peaches/nectarins, spinach (fresh or frozen).