European residue report of the DG SANCO : improvements remain to be done

UIPP examined EU Residue monitoring report for the year 2000. 

On this occasion, it wishes to reaffirm its full support for the publication of such results. Since many years, UIPP has asked for the setting up, at a national scale, of a residue observatory because it will provide transparency and speed of publication.

As far as the differences between results of each state are concerned, UIPP underlines that this is mainly due to sampling methods used.

Even if the values of 4,5% for the European average and 11% for France mentioning the exceeding of the MRL (maximum residue limit)* are of course too high, it should be said they do not represent any risk to public health. 

To comply with MRL needs to follow good agricultural practices : using the right dose rates, number of product applications and pre-harvest interval. All this information is mentioned on the product label or is accessible by seeking advice with any technical agent from a recognised institution. 

The plant protection industry stresses the importance of implementing these good agricultural practice by farmers, which guarantees a harvest which can be consumed with confidence. It has decided to reinforce the action plan for a rapid spread of Integrated Crop Protection principles.
The setting up of the regulatory framework and the referential for Integrated Crop Management on farms will contribute to the same objective.

*This maximum residue limit (MRL), which has been determined according to agricultural practice, is then compared with the no-effect level encountered with the most sensitive animal, and then receives a safety factor (at least equal to 100) which should not be exceeded. The MRL is a limit which has been determined by law to prevent possible hazards : it does not represent any level above which human health would be put at risk.

Contact : Claire MORIN - tel : +331 41 31 52 00 /+336 03 21 48 16

UIPP is a professional union which represents the Plant Protection Industry. It was set up in 1918, it has 28 members representing 96% of the French market, the first market in the European Union.