Development in Standards and Legislations of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) of Pesticide Residues in Foods and World Trade Issues

摘要

Modern agricultural production depends on the use of pesticides to control a wide range of pests. It is of great public concern on food safety for control of residues of pesticides in food. Leaving only toxicologically acceptable residues in food and the environment and offering minimum risk to consumers are very important. Based on scientific principles, methods and procedure, FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) established the Codex MRLs of pesticide residues in foods to ensure food safety. These standards should be internationally accepted and in accordance with the WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures Agreement (SPS). This paper summarizes the following issues involved in current principles and methods of establishment of Codex MRLs of pesticide residues in foods and related risk assessment for ensuring safety of food and to facilitate fair international trade development: 1. Codex MRLs recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) on the basis of establishment of the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) and estimation of MRLs for review of residue data from supervised trials reflecting national Good Agricultural Practices (GAP); 2. Current principles and methods of establishment of Codex MRLs of pesticide residues in foods and related risk assessment; 3. Development of the Codex Classification of Foods and Animal Feeds for Estimation of maximum residue levels of commodity group and extrapolation of group MRLs; Residue definition for MRLs; 4. Analytical methods for establishment and enforcement of the MRLs; 5. The difference between national and international MRLs leads to trade irritants and barriers.