Commission Directive 2007/8/EC

of 20 February 2007

amending Annexes to Council Directives 76/895/EEC, 86/362/EEC and 90/642/EEC as regards maximum residue levels for phosphamidon and mevinphos

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 76/895/EEC of 23 November 1976 relating to the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on fruit and vegetables1, and in particular Article 5 thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 86/362/EEC of 24 July 1986 on the fixing of maximum levels for pesticide residues in and on cereals2, and in particular Article 10 thereof,
Having regard to 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 vegetables3, and in particular Article 7 thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

In the case of cereals and products of plant origin including fruit and vegetables, residue levels reflect the use of minimum quantities of pesticides necessary to achieve effective protection of plants, applied in such a manner that the amount of residue is as low as is practicable and toxicologically acceptable, having regard, in particular to the protection of the environment and the estimated dietary intake of consumers. In the case of foodstuffs of animal origin, residue levels reflect the consumption by animals of cereals and products of plant origin treated with pesticides and, where relevant, the direct consequences of the use of veterinary medicines. Community maximum residue levels (MRLs) represent the upper limit of the amount of such residues that might be expected to be found in commodities when good agricultural practices have been respected.

(2)

MRLs for pesticides are kept under review and changed to take account of new information and data. MRLs are fixed at the lower limit of analytical determination where authorised uses of plant protection products do not result in detectable levels of pesticide residue in or on the food product, or where there are no authorised uses, or where uses which have been authorised by Member States have not been supported by the necessary data, or where uses in third countries resulting in residues in or on food products which may enter into circulation in the Community market have not been supported by the necessary data.

(3)

The Commission was informed that for phosphamidon and mevinphos current MRLs may need to be revised in the light of the availability of new information on the toxicology and consumer intake. The Commission asked the relevant rapporteur Member States to make proposals for the review of Community MRLs. Such proposals were submitted to the Commission.

(4)
The lifetime and short-term exposure of consumers to the pesticides referred to in this Directive via food products has been reassessed and evaluated in accordance with Community procedures and practices, taking account of guidelines published by the World Health Organisation4. On that basis, it is appropriate to fix new MRLs, which will ensure that there is no unacceptable consumer exposure.
(5)

Where relevant, the acute exposure of consumers to those pesticides via each of the food products that may contain residues has been assessed and evaluated in accordance with Community procedures and practices, taking account of guidelines published by the World Health Organisation. It is concluded that the presence of pesticide residues at or below the new MRLs will not cause acute toxic effects.

(6)

Through the World Trade Organisation, the Community's trading partners have been consulted about the new MRLs and their comments on these levels have been taken into account.

(7)

The Annexes to Directives 76/895/EEC, 86/362/EEC and 90/642/EEC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8)

The measures provided for in this Directive are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Article 1

In Annex II to Directive 76/895/EEC the entries relating to phosphamidon and mevinphos are deleted.

Article 2

Directive 86/362/EEC is amended as follows in accordance with Annex I to this Directive.

Article 3

Directive 90/642/EEC is amended in accordance with Annex II to this Directive.

Article 4

1.

Member States shall adopt and publish, by 1 September 2007 at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions and a correlation table between those provisions and this Directive.

They shall apply those provisions from 2 September 2007.

When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.

2.

Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Article 5

This Directive shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Article 6

This Directive is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 20 February 2007.

For the Commission

Markos Kyprianou

Member of the Commission

ANNEX I

In part A of Annex II to Directive 86/362/EEC the following lines for phosphamidon and mevinphos are added:

Pesticide residues

Maximum levels in mg/kg

‘Phosphamidon

0,015

Cereals

Mevinphos, sum of E- and Z-isomers

0,015

Cereals

5

Indicates lower limit of analytical determination’

ANNEX II

In part A of Annex II to Directive 90/642/EEC the following columns for phosphamidon and mevinphos are added:

Pesticide residue and maximum residue level (mg/kg)

Groups and examples of individual products to which the MRLs would apply

Phosphamidon

Mevinphos, sum of E- and Z-isomers

‘1.

Fruit, fresh, dried or uncooked, preserved by freezing, not containing added sugar; nuts

0,016

0,016

(i)

CITRUS FRUIT

Grapefruit

Lemons

Limes

Mandarins (including clementines and other hybrids)

Oranges

Pomelos

Others

(ii)

TREE NUTS (shelled or unshelled)

Almonds

Brazil nuts

Cashew nuts

Chestnuts

Coconuts

Hazelnuts

Macadamia

Pecans

Pine nuts

Pistachios

Walnuts

Others

(iii)

POME FRUIT

Apples

Pears

Quinces

Others

(iv)

STONE FRUIT

Apricots

Cherries

Peaches (including nectarines and similar hybrids)

Plums

Others

(v)

BERRIES AND SMALL FRUIT

(a)

Table and wine grapes

Table grapes

Wine grapes

(b)

Strawberries (other than wild)

(c)

Cane fruit (other than wild)

Blackberries

Dewberries

Loganberries

Raspberries

Others

(d)

Other small fruit and berries (other than wild)

Bilberries

Cranberries

Currants (red, black and white)

Gooseberries

Others

(e)

Wild berries and wild fruit

(vi)

MISCELLANEOUS

Avocados

Bananas

Dates

Figs

Kiwi

Kumquats

Litchis

Mangoes

Olives (table consumption)

Olives (oil extraction)

Papaya

Passion fruit

Pineapples

Pomegranate

Others

2.

Vegetables, fresh or uncooked, frozen or dry

0,016

0,016

(i)

ROOT AND TUBER VEGETABLES

Beetroot

Carrots

Cassava

Celeriac

Horseradish

Jerusalem artichokes

Parsnips

Parsley root

Radishes

Salsify

Sweet potatoes

Swedes

Turnips

Yam

Others

(ii)

BULB VEGETABLES

Garlic

Onions

Shallots

Spring onions

Others

(iii)

FRUITING VEGETABLES

(a)

Solanacea

Tomatoes

Peppers

Aubergines

Okra

Others

(b)

Cucurbits — edible peel

Cucumbers

Gherkins

Courgettes

Others

(c)

Cucurbits-inedible peel

Melons

Squashes

Watermelons

Others

(d)

Sweet corn

(iv)

BRASSICA VEGETABLES

(a)

Flowering brassica

Broccoli (including Calabrese)

Cauliflower

Others

(b)

Head brassica

Brussels sprouts

Head cabbage

Others

(c)

Leafy brassica

Chinese cabbage

Kale

Others

(d)

Kohlrabi

(v)

LEAF VEGETABLES AND FRESH HERBS

(a)

Lettuce and similar

Cress

Lamb's lettuce

Lettuce

Scarole (broad-leaf endive)

Ruccola

Leaves and stems of brassica

Others

(b)

Spinach and similar

Spinach

Beet leaves (chard)

Others

(c)

Water cress

(d)

Witloof

(e)

Herbs

Chervil

Chives

Parsley

Celery leaves

Others

(vi)

LEGUME VEGETABLES (fresh)

Beans (with pods)

Beans (without pods)

Peas (with pods)

Peas (without pods)

Others

(vii)

STEM VEGETABLES (fresh)

Asparagus

Cardoons

Celery

Fennel

Globe artichokes

Leek

Rhubarb

Others

(viii)

FUNGI

(a)

Cultivated mushrooms

(b)

Wild mushrooms

3.

Pulses

0,016

0,016

Beans

Lentils

Peas

Lupines

Others

4.

Oilseeds

0,016

0,016

Linseed

Peanuts

Poppy seed

Sesame seed

Sunflower seed

Rape seed

Soya bean

Mustard seed

Cotton seed

Hemp seed

Others

5.

Potatoes

0,016

0,016

Early potatoes

Ware potatoes

6.

Tea (dried leaves and stalks, fermented or other-wise, Camellia sinensis)

0,026

0,026

7.

Hops (dried), including hop pellets and unconcentrated powder

0,026

0,026

6

Indicates lower limit of analytical determination.’