Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations, made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 and section 16(2) of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985, amend the provisions of the Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 (S.R. 2002 No. 20).

The Regulations specify maximum levels which crops, food and feeding stuffs may contain in implementation of Commission Directives 2000/81/EC (O.J. No. L326, 22.12.2000, p. 56), 2000/82/EC (O.J. No. L3, 6.1.2001, p.18), 2001/39/EC (O.J. No. L148, 01.06.01, p.70), 2001/48/EC (O.J. No. L180, 03.07.01, p. 26) and 2001/57/EC (O.J. No. L208, 01.08.01, p. 36) (regulation 2(5) and (6)).

The maximum level for iprodione on spring onions is amended to reflect Commission Directive 1998/82/EC (O.J. No. L290, 29.10.98, p. 25), and the maximum level for methamidophos on cottonseed is corrected to that set out in Commission Directive 1993/58/EEC (O.J. No. L211, 23.8.93, p. 6) (regulation 2(6)).

Further residue specifications are introduced and the definition of “the Residues Directives” is updated to take account of the Directives being implemented (regulation 2(2) and (3)).

Additionally, the Regulations remove specified maximum level of Tecnazene in relation to lettuce from 1st July 2003 which had been included in Part I to Schedule 2 by the 2002 Regulations by virtue of powers contained in the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 and which have been replaced by the Community maximum level now included in Part II of that Schedule (regulation 2(4)).