Council Directive 90/642/EEC of 27 November 1990 on the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on certain products of plant origin, including fruit and vegetables

COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 27 November 1990 on the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on certain products of plant origin, including fruit and vegetables (90/642/EEC)
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),
Whereas crop production plays a very important role in the Community:
Whereas the yield from that production is continually affected by harmful organisms and weeds;
Whereas it is essential to protect plants and plant products against these organisms, not only to prevent a reduction in yield or damage to the products harvested but also to increase agricultural productivity;
Whereas one of the most important methods of protecting plants and plant products from the effects of these organisms is the use of chemical pesticides ; whereas, however, mandatory maximum levels should be set as low as is consistent with good agricultural practice;
Whereas, however, their favourable effect on plant production is not the only effect of these pesticides, since they are generally dangerous substances or preparations with dangerous side-effects;
Whereas a large number of these pesticides and of their metabolites or breakdown products may have harmful effects on consumers of plant products ; whereas these pesticides should not be used in circumstances which present a risk to human or animal health and to the environment;
Whereas the Community should encourage the use of alternative, organic farming methods;
Whereas Council Directive 76/895/EEC of 23 November 1976 relating to the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on fruit and vegetables (4), as last amended by Directive 89/186/EEC (5), fixes maximum levels for the said residues and ensures the free movement throughout the Community of products with levels less than, or equal to, these maximum levels ; whereas, however, the said Directive permits Member States, in cases where they consider this justified, to authorize products containing levels higher than the maximum levels to be put into circulation within their own territories;
Whereas this last provision leads in some cases to continuing differences between Member States as regards the maximum permissible levels for these pesticide residues, which can help to create barriers to trade and thus hinder the free movement of goods within the Community ; whereas, with a view to achieving the single market in 1992, these barriers should be removed;  (1) OJ No C 46, 25.2.1989, p. 5. (2) OJ No C 260, 15.10.1990, p. 56. (3) OJ No C 329, 30.12.1989, p. 11. (4) OJ No L 340, 9.12.1976, p. 26. (5) OJ No L 66, 10.3.1989, p. 36.
Whereas, for these reasons, the possibility for Member States to authorize higher levels should be withdrawn and maximum levels mandatory in all Member States should be fixed for certain active substances in and on fruit and vegetables, which must be observed when these products are put into circulation;
Whereas, again with a view to ensuring the free movement of goods within the Community, mandatory maximum levels should also be fixed for certain pesticides in and on certain other products of plant origin;
Whereas, moreover, observance of the maximum levels will ensure that products can move freely and that the health of consumers and of animals is properly protected;
Whereas, however, the determination of mandatory maximum levels for pesticide residues requires lengthy technical consideration, so that such levels cannot be imposed immediately upon the pesticide residues regulated by Directive 76/895/EEC;
Whereas it is therefore necessary to adopt separate rules providing for these mandatory maximum levels, with a view to transferring pesticide residues from Directive 76/895/EEC to these separate rules progressively as mandatory levels are determined for them;
Whereas, accordingly, this Directive does not affect Directive 76/895/EEC, which shall continue to apply to certain pesticide residues not subject to this Directive;
Whereas the establishment of a list of pesticide residues and their maximum levels is a matter falling within the competence of the Council ; whereas, however, this list should not include pesticide residues still covered by Directive 76/895/EEC;
Whereas it is appropriate to apply this Directive to products intended for export to third countries, except in certain cases where it can be established that importing countries require particular treatments which would necessitate higher maximum levels than those fixed for the Community pursuant to this Directive ; whereas, however, it is not appropriate to apply this Directive to products intended for the manufacture of products other than foodstuffs and feedingstuffs, or for sowing or planting;
Whereas, in order to guarantee compliance with this Directive when products are put into circulation, Member States must take suitable control measures ; whereas the necessary inspections should be programmed, carried out and their results reported in accordance with Council Directive 89/397/EEC of 14 June 1989 on the official inspection of foodstuffs (1);
Whereas Community methods of sampling and analysis should be established and, in the case of analysis methods, used at least as reference methods ; whereas the establishment of these methods is a technical and scientific implementing measure which should be determined by means of a procedure involving close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission within the Standing Committee on Plant Health ; whereas the analysis methods should comply with the criteria set out in the Annex to Council Directive 85/591/EEC of 20 December 1985 concerning the introduction of Community methods of sampling and analysis for the monitoring of foodstuffs intended for human consumption (2);
Whereas future modifications of the list of products of plant origin in or on which pesticide residues may be present must be adopted by the Council;
Whereas Member States should be allowed to reduce temporarily the levels laid down if they subsequently prove dangerous to human or animal health ; whereas it is appropriate in these cases also to establish close cooperation between the Member States and the Commission within the Standing Committee on Plant Health,