Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/73 of 16 January 2018 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for mercury compounds in or on certain products (Text with EEA relevance. )
Date: 2018-01-16
Institutions: Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, European Commission
Subjects: consumer protection, crop production, food inspection, food safety, foodstuff, mercury, pesticide, pesticide residue




L_2018013EN.01000801.xml










18.1.2018   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


L 13/8








            COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2018/73
of 16 January 2018
         
amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for mercury compounds in or on certain products
(Text with EEA relevance)


THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,


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 14(1)(a) and Article 16(1)(a) thereof,

Whereas:







(1)


For mercury compounds, maximum residue levels (MRLs) were set in Annex II and Part B of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.












(2)


Council Directive 79/117/EEC prohibited the placing on the market and use of plant protection products containing mercury compounds. All authorisations of plant protection products containing mercury compounds were revoked and consequently all MRLs were set at the relevant limit of determination (LOD).












(3)


The Commission received information from food business operators and Member States showing the presence of mercury compounds in several products leading to higher residues than the LOD laid down in Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.












(4)


Recent monitoring data confirms that residues of mercury compounds occur in several products at levels higher than the LOD. Taking into account the 95th percentile of all the sample results, the following occurrences were reported: tree nuts at 0,02 mg/kg; fresh herbs at 0,03 mg/kg; cultivated fungi at 0,05 mg/kg; wild fungi at 0,50 mg/kg, except for ceps at 0,90 mg/kg; oilseeds at 0,02 mg/kg; teas, coffee beans, herbal infusions and cocoa beans at 0,02 mg/kg; spices at 0,02 mg/kg, except ginger, nutmeg, mace and turmeric at 0,05 mg/kg; meat at 0,01 mg/kg, except for meat of wild game animals at 0,015 mg/kg and duck meat (farmed and wild) at 0,04 mg/kg; animal fat at 0,01 mg/kg; edible offal at 0,02 mg/kg except for offal of wild game animals at 0,025 mg/kg and offal of wild boar at 0,10 mg/kg; milk at 0,01 mg/kg; and honey at 0,01 mg/kg.












(5)


As mercury containing pesticides have been phased out since more than thirty years in the Union, the presence of mercury in food can be considered due to environmental contamination. It is therefore appropriate to replace the default values with the ones listed in recital 4, thus reflecting environmental background of mercury in Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. This will enable national competent authorities to take appropriate enforcement action on the basis of realistic MRLs.












(6)


The Scientific Panel on contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) of the European Food Safety Authority, hereinafter ‘the Authority’, adopted an opinion on mercury and methylmercury in food (2).












(7)


As mercury compounds occur at low levels in the products listed in recital 4 and taking into account the available consumption data within the Union, the overall contribution to the dietary exposure is considered low and there is no health risk for consumers. The MRLs for those products should be set as temporary in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. Those MRLs will be reviewed; the review will take into account the information available within 10 years from the publication of this Regulation.












(8)


The Commission consulted the European Union reference laboratories for residues of pesticides as regards the need to adapt the LODs. Those laboratories concluded that the current LODs should be maintained.












(9)


Based on the opinion of the Authority and taking into account the factors relevant to the matter under consideration, the appropriate modifications to the MRLs fulfil the requirements of Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.












(10)


Through the World Trade Organisation, the trading partners of the Union were consulted on the new MRLs and their comments have been taken into account.












(11)


Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 should therefore be amended accordingly.












(12)


The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,





HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:



Article 1
Annexes II and III 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 twentieth 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, 16 January 2018.


For the Commission


The President

Jean-Claude JUNCKER
            





(1)  
            OJ L 70, 16.3.2005, p. 1.

(2)  EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM); Scientific Opinion on the risk for public health related to the presence of mercury and methylmercury in food. EFSA Journal 2012;10(12):2985. [241 pp.].




ANNEX
Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are amended as follows:






(1)


In Annex II, the column for mercury compounds is deleted.










(2)


Annex III is amended as follows:






(a)


In Part A, the column for mercury compounds is added:

‘Pesticide residues and maximum residue levels (mg/kg)








Code number


Groups and examples of individual products to which the MRLs apply (1)



Mercury compounds (sum of mercury compounds expressed as mercury)




(1)


(2)


(3)






0100000 



FRUITS, FRESH or FROZEN; TREE NUTS



 






0110000 



Citrus fruits



0,01 (*1)





0110010 


Grapefruits


 




0110020 


Oranges


 




0110030 


Lemons


 




0110040 


Limes


 




0110050 


Mandarins


 




0110990 


Others


 






0120000 



Tree nuts




0,02 (+)





0120010 


Almonds


 




0120020 


Brazil nuts


 




0120030 


Cashew nuts


 




0120040 


Chestnuts


 




0120050 


Coconuts


 




0120060 


Hazelnuts/cobnuts


 




0120070 


Macadamias


 




0120080 


Pecans


 




0120090 


Pine nut kernels


 




0120100 


Pistachios


 




0120110 


Walnuts


 




0120990 


Others


 






0130000 



Pome fruits



0,01 (*1)





0130010 


Apples


 




0130020 


Pears


 




0130030 


Quinces


 




0130040 


Medlars


 




0130050 


Loquats/Japanese medlars


 




0130990 


Others


 






0140000 



Stone fruits



0,01 (*1)





0140010 


Apricots


 




0140020 


Cherries (sweet)


 




0140030 


Peaches


 




0140040 


Plums


 




0140990 


Others


 






0150000 



Berries and small fruits



0,01 (*1)







0151000 








(a)


grapes






 




0151010 


Table grapes


 




0151020 


Wine grapes


 




0152000 








(b)


strawberries






 






0153000 








(c)


cane fruits






 




0153010 


Blackberries


 




0153020 


Dewberries


 




0153030 


Raspberries (red and yellow)


 




0153990 


Others


 






0154000 








(d)


other small fruits and berries






 




0154010 


Blueberries


 




0154020 


Cranberries


 




0154030 


Currants (black, red and white)


 




0154040 


Gooseberries (green, red and yellow)


 




0154050 


Rose hips


 




0154060 


Mulberries (black and white)


 




0154070 


Azaroles/Mediterranean medlars


 




0154080 


Elderberries


 




0154990 


Others


 






0160000 



Miscellaneous fruits with



0,01 (*1)







0161000 








(a)


edible peel






 




0161010 


Dates


 




0161020 


Figs


 




0161030 


Table olives


 




0161040 


Kumquats


 




0161050 


Carambolas


 




0161060 


Kaki/Japanese persimmons


 




0161070 


Jambuls/jambolans


 




0161990 


Others


 






0162000 








(b)


inedible peel, small






 




0162010 


Kiwi fruits (green, red, yellow)


 




0162020 


Litchis/lychees


 




0162030 


Passionfruits/maracujas


 




0162040 


Prickly pears/cactus fruits


 




0162050 


Star apples/cainitos


 




0162060 


American persimmons/Virginia kaki


 




0162990 


Others


 






0163000 








(c)


inedible peel, large






 




0163010 


Avocados


 




0163020 


Bananas


 




0163030 


Mangoes


 




0163040 


Papayas


 




0163050 


Granate apples/pomegranates


 




0163060 


Cherimoyas


 




0163070 


Guavas


 




0163080 


Pineapples


 




0163090 


Breadfruits


 




0163100 


Durians


 




0163110 


Soursops/guanabanas


 




0163990 


Others


 






0200000 



VEGETABLES, FRESH or FROZEN



 






0210000 



Root and tuber vegetables



0,01 (*1)





0211000 








(a)


potatoes






 






0212000 








(b)


tropical root and tuber vegetables






 




0212010 


Cassava roots/manioc


 




0212020 


Sweet potatoes


 




0212030 


Yams


 




0212040 


Arrowroots


 




0212990 


Others


 






0213000 








(c)


other root and tuber vegetables except sugar beets






 




0213010 


Beetroots


 




0213020 


Carrots


 




0213030 


Celeriacs/turnip rooted celeries


 




0213040 


Horseradishes


 




0213050 


Jerusalem artichokes


 




0213060 


Parsnips


 




0213070 


Parsley roots/Hamburg roots parsley


 




0213080 


Radishes


 




0213090 


Salsifies


 




0213100 


Swedes/rutabagas


 




0213110 


Turnips


 




0213990 


Others


 






0220000 



Bulb vegetables



0,01 (*1)





0220010 


Garlic


 




0220020 


Onions


 




0220030 


Shallots


 




0220040 


Spring onions/green onions and Welsh onions


 




0220990 


Others


 






0230000 



Fruiting vegetables



0,01 (*1)







0231000 








(a)


solanacea






 




0231010 


Tomatoes


 




0231020 


Sweet peppers/bell peppers


 




0231030 


Aubergines/eggplants


 




0231040 


Okra/lady's fingers


 




0231990 


Others


 






0232000 








(b)


cucurbits with edible peel






 




0232010 


Cucumbers


 




0232020 


Gherkins


 




0232030 


Courgettes


 




0232990 


Others


 






0233000 








(c)


cucurbits with inedible peel






 




0233010 


Melons


 




0233020 


Pumpkins


 




0233030 


Watermelons


 




0233990 


Others


 




0234000 








(d)


sweet corn






 




0239000 








(e)


other fruiting vegetables






 






0240000 



Brassica vegetables (excluding brassica roots and brassica baby leaf crops)



0,01 (*1)







0241000 








(a)


flowering brassica






 




0241010 


Broccoli


 




0241020 


Cauliflowers


 




0241990 


Others


 






0242000 








(b)


head brassica






 




0242010 


Brussels sprouts


 




0242020 


Head cabbages


 




0242990 


Others


 






0243000 








(c)


leafy brassica






 




0243010 


Chinese cabbages/pe-tsai


 




0243020 


Kales


 




0243990 


Others


 




0244000 








(d)


kohlrabies






 






0250000 



Leaf vegetables, herbs and edible flowers



 






0251000 








(a)


lettuces and salad plants






0,01 (*1)





0251010 


Lamb's lettuces/corn salads


 




0251020 


Lettuces


 




0251030 


Escaroles/broad-leaved endives


 




0251040 


Cresses and other sprouts and shoots


 




0251050 


Land cresses


 




0251060 


Roman rocket/rucola


 




0251070 


Red mustards


 




0251080 


Baby leaf crops (including brassica species)


 




0251990 


Others


 






0252000 








(b)


spinaches and similar leaves






0,01 (*1)





0252010 


Spinaches


 




0252020 


Purslanes


 




0252030 


Chards/beet leaves


 




0252990 


Others


 




0253000 








(c)


grape leaves and similar species






0,01 (*1)





0254000 








(d)


watercresses






0,01 (*1)





0255000 








(e)


witloofs/Belgian endives






0,01 (*1)







0256000 








(f)


herbs and edible flowers







0,03 (+)





0256010 


Chervil


 




0256020 


Chives


 




0256030 


Celery leaves


 




0256040 


Parsley


 




0256050 


Sage


 




0256060 


Rosemary


 




0256070 


Thyme


 




0256080 


Basil and edible flowers


 




0256090 


Laurel/bay leave


 




0256100 


Tarragon


 




0256990 


Others


 






0260000 



Legume vegetables



0,01 (*1)





0260010 


Beans (with pods)


 




0260020 


Beans (without pods)


 




0260030 


Peas (with pods)


 




0260040 


Peas (without pods)


 




0260050 


Lentils


 




0260990 


Others


 






0270000 



Stem vegetables



0,01 (*1)





0270010 


Asparagus


 




0270020 


Cardoons


 




0270030 


Celeries


 




0270040 


Florence fennels


 




0270050 


Globe artichokes


 




0270060 


Leeks


 




0270070 


Rhubarbs


 




0270080 


Bamboo shoots


 




0270090 


Palm hearts


 




0270990 


Others


 






0280000 



Fungi, mosses and lichens



 




0280010 


Cultivated fungi



0,05 (+)





0280020 


Wild fungi



0,5 (+)





0280990 


Mosses and lichens


0,01 (*1)





0290000 



Algae and prokaryotes organisms



0,01 (*1)







0300000 



PULSES



0,01 (*1)





0300010 


Beans


 




0300020 


Lentils


 




0300030 


Peas


 




0300040 


Lupins/lupini beans


 




0300990 


Others


 






0400000 



OILSEEDS AND OIL FRUITS



 






0401000 



Oilseeds




0,02 (+)





0401010 


Linseeds


 




0401020 


Peanuts/groundnuts


 




0401030 


Poppy seeds


 




0401040 


Sesame seeds


 




0401050 


Sunflower seeds


 




0401060 


Rapeseeds/canola seeds


 




0401070 


Soyabeans


 




0401080 


Mustard seeds


 




0401090 


Cotton seeds


 




0401100 


Pumpkin seeds


 




0401110 


Safflower seeds


 




0401120 


Borage seeds


 




0401130 


Gold of pleasure seeds


 




0401140 


Hemp seeds


 




0401150 


Castor beans


 




0401990 


Others


 






0402000 



Oil fruits



 




0402010 


Olives for oil production


0,01 (*1)





0402020 


Oil palms kernels


0,02 (*1)





0402030 


Oil palms fruits


0,02 (*1)





0402040 


Kapok


0,02 (*1)





0402990 


Others


0,02 (*1)







0500000 



CEREALS



0,01 (*1)





0500010 


Barley


 




0500020 


Buckwheat and other pseudo-cereals


 




0500030 


Maize/corn


 




0500040 


Common millet/proso millet


 




0500050 


Oat


 




0500060 


Rice


 




0500070 


Rye


 




0500080 


Sorghum


 




0500090 


Wheat


 




0500990 


Others


 






0600000 



TEAS, COFFEE, HERBAL INFUSIONS, COCOA AND CAROBS



 




0610000 



Teas




0,02 (+)





0620000 



Coffee beans




0,02 (+)







0630000 



Herbal infusions from




0,02 (+)







0631000 








(a)


flowers






 




0631010 


Chamomile


 




0631020 


Hibiscus/roselle


 




0631030 


Rose


 




0631040 


Jasmine


 




0631050 


Lime/linden


 




0631990 


Others


 






0632000 








(b)


leaves and herbs






 




0632010 


Strawberry


 




0632020 


Rooibos


 




0632030 


Mate/maté


 




0632990 


Others


 






0633000 








(c)


roots






 




0633010 


Valerian


 




0633020 


Ginseng


 




0633990 


Others


 




0639000 








(d)


any other parts of the plant






 




0640000 



Cocoa beans




0,02 (+)





0650000 



Carobs/Saint John's breads



0,02 (*1)





0700000 



HOPS



0,02 (*1)







0800000 



SPICES




(+)







0810000 



Seed spices



 




0810010 


Anise/aniseed



0,02





0810020 


Black caraway/black cumin



0,02





0810030 


Celery



0,02





0810040 


Coriander



0,02





0810050 


Cumin



0,02





0810060 


Dill



0,02





0810070 


Fennel



0,02





0810080 


Fenugreek



0,02





0810090 


Nutmeg



0,05





0810990 


Others



0,02







0820000 



Fruit spices




0,02





0820010 


Allspice/pimento


 




0820020 


Sichuan pepper


 




0820030 


Caraway


 




0820040 


Cardamom


 




0820050 


Juniper berry


 




0820060 


Peppercorn (black, green and white)


 




0820070 


Vanilla


 




0820080 


Tamarind


 




0820990 


Others


 






0830000 



Bark spices




0,02





0830010 


Cinnamon


 




0830990 


Others


 






0840000 



Root and rhizome spices



 




0840010 


Liquorice



0,02





0840020 


Ginger



0,05





0840030 


Turmeric/curcuma



0,05





0840040 


Horseradish


 




0840990 


Others



0,02







0850000 



Bud spices




0,02





0850010 


Cloves


 




0850020 


Capers


 




0850990 


Others


 






0860000 



Flower pistil spices




0,02





0860010 


Saffron


 




0860990 


Others


 






0870000 



Aril spices



 




0870010 


Mace



0,05





0870990 


Others



0,02







0900000 



SUGAR PLANTS



0,01 (*1)





0900010 


Sugar beet roots


 




0900020 


Sugar canes


 




0900030 


Chicory roots


 




0900990 


Others


 






1000000 



PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN -TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS



 






1010000 



Tissues from



 






1011000 








(a)


swine







(+)





1011010 


Muscle



0,01





1011020 


Fat tissue



0,01





1011030 


Liver



0,02





1011040 


Kidney



0,02





1011050 


Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)



0,02





1011990 


Others



0,01
 (*1)







1012000 








(b)


bovine







(+)





1012010 


Muscle



0,01





1012020 


Fat tissue



0,01





1012030 


Liver



0,02





1012040 


Kidney



0,02





1012050 


Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)



0,02





1012990 


Others



0,01
 (*1)







1013000 








(c)


sheep







(+)





1013010 


Muscle



0,01





1013020 


Fat tissue



0,01





1013030 


Liver



0,02





1013040 


Kidney



0,02





1013050 


Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)



0,02





1013990 


Others



0,01
 (*1)







1014000 








(d)


goat







(+)





1014010 


Muscle



0,01





1014020 


Fat tissue



0,01





1014030 


Liver



0,02





1014040 


Kidney



0,02





1014050 


Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)



0,02





1014990 


Others



0,01
 (*1)







1015000 








(e)


equine







(+)





1015010 


Muscle



0,01





1015020 


Fat tissue



0,01





1015030 


Liver



0,02





1015040 


Kidney



0,02





1015050 


Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)



0,02





1015990 


Others



0,01
 (*1)







1016000 








(f)


poultry






 




1016010 


Muscle



0,01 (+)





1016020 


Fat tissue



0,01 (+)





1016030 


Liver



0,02 (+)





1016040 


Kidney



0,02 (+)





1016050 


Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)



0,02 (+)





1016990 


Others


0,01 (*1)







1017000 








(g)


other farmed terrestrial animals







(+)





1017010 


Muscle



0,01





1017020 


Fat tissue



0,01





1017030 


Liver



0,02





1017040 


Kidney



0,02





1017050 


Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)



0,02





1017990 


Others



0,01
 (*1)







1020000 



Milk




0,01 (+)





1020010 


Cattle


 




1020020 


Sheep


 




1020030 


Goat


 




1020040 


Horse


 




1020990 


Others


 






1030000 



Birds eggs



0,01 (*1)





1030010 


Chicken


 




1030020 


Duck


 




1030030 


Geese


 




1030040 


Quail


 




1030990 


Others


 




1040000 



Honey and other apiculture products




0,01 (+)





1050000 



Amphibians and Reptiles




0,01
 (*1)





1060000 



Terrestrial invertebrate animals




0,01
 (*1)





1070000 



Wild terrestrial vertebrate animals




0,04 (+)












(F)


=


Fat soluble





Mercury compounds (sum of mercury compounds expressed as mercury)







(+)


Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information available within 10 years from the date of publication.







0120000 




Tree nuts






0256000 










(f)



herbs and edible flowers









0280010 




Cultivated fungi















(+)


The following MRL applies to ceps: 0,9 mg/kg. Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information available within 10 years from the date of publication.







0280020 




Wild fungi















(+)


Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information available within 10 years from the date of publication.







0401000 




Oilseeds






0610000 




Teas






0620000 




Coffee beans






0630000 




Herbal infusions from






0640000 




Cocoa beans






0800000 




SPICES















(+)


The applicable maximum residue level for horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) in the spice group (code 0840040 ) is the one set for horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) in the Vegetables category, root and tuber vegetables group (code 0213040 ) taking into account changes in the levels by processing (drying) according to Art. 20 (1) of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.







0840040 




Horseradish















(+)


Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information available within 10 years from the date of publication.







1011000 










(a)



Tissues from swine









1012000 










(b)



Tissues from bovine









1013000 










(c)



Tissues from sheep









1014000 










(d)



Tissues from goat









1015000 










(e)



Tissues from equine


















(+)


The following MRL applies to duck meat: 0,04 mg/kg. Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information available within 10 years from the date of publication.







1016010 




Muscle (poultry)















(+)


Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information available within 10 years from the date of publication.







1016020 




Fat tissue (poultry)






1016030 




Liver (poultry)






1016040 




Kidney (poultry)






1016050 




Edible offals (poultry)






1017000 










(g)



Tissues from other farmed terrestrial animals









1020000 




Milk






1040000 




Honey and other apiculture products















(+)


The following MRL applies to offal of wild boar: 0,1 mg/kg. Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information available within 10 years from the date of publication.







1070000 




Wild terrestrial vertebrate animals’























(b)


In Part B, the column for mercury compounds is deleted.










(*1)  Limit of analytical determination

(1)  For the complete list of products of plant and animal origin to which MRLs apply, reference should be made to Annex I.