Proposal for a Regulation on Maximum Residue Levels of Pesticides in Plant and Animal Products

Abstract:

Briefing on the European Commission Proposal Regulation on maximum residue levels of and animal products [COM (2003) 117].

SUMMARY

In this document, the Commission proposes a simplification of the current arrangements for securing pesticide safety within the EU. It proposes unified arrangements for setting safety levels and transfers responsibility for them from Member States to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The opinion of reviewers was that the harmonisation and simplification proposed is useful in principle. There are, however, a number of reservations about how it would work in practice.