China's Standards for Maximum Pesticide Residue Limits

  Increased to 7107　

   Recently, the National Food Safety Standards for Maximum Pesticide Residue Limits

   in Foods was jointly issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the

   National Health Commission and the State Administration of Market Regulation. The

   new edition of the maximum pesticide residue limits issued this time stipulates 7107

   residue limits on 483 pesticides in 356 foods, an increase of 50 pesticide varieties

   and 2,967 residue limits compared with the 2016 edition. The pesticide varieties and

   limits in the standards for the first time outnumber those of the Codex Alimentarius

   Commission, marking a new level of pesticide residue standards in China.

   It is learned that the 2019 edition of the National Food Safety Standards for Maximum

   Pesticide Residue Limits in Foods mainly contains five characteristics: First, it covers

   all pesticide varieties approved for use in China, and solves the problem in the past

   of "some registered pesticides having no residue limits". At the same time, based on

   evaluation data, it scientifically and rigorously sets the residue limits. Second, it

   highlights high-risk banned or restricted pesticides, stipulating 585 limits on 27

   banned pesticides and 311 limits on 16 restricted pesticides. Third, the standards

   for pesticide residue limits on featured minor crops have increased significantly. It

   increases 804 limits on 119 new featured minor crops such as ginseng, bayberry, and

   winter jujube, making the total number reach 1,602, more than twice that of the

   2016 edition. Fourth, the number of residue limits on animal-derived foods has

   greatly increased. The number of maximum residue limits on 109 pesticides in 27

   animal-derived foods that are daily consumed by people such as meat, eggs and

   milk reaches 703, a number 14 times that of the 2016 edition. The expansion from

   mainly plant-derived foods to animal-derived foods has further broadened the

   coverage of food safety regulations. Fifth, the number of pesticides in imported

   food and agricultural products has increased significantly. In view of the fact that

   imported agricultural products may contain pesticides that have not been

   registered in China, it transforms the International Codex Alimentarius standards

   according to evaluation, and a total of 1,109 residue limits of 77 pesticides that have

   not been approved for use in China have been formulated.
 
   It is reported that the newly released pesticide residue limits in foods are formulated

   based on China's pesticide residue testing and monitoring data, dietary consumption

   data of Chinese residents, pesticide toxicology data, etc. and after scientific risk

   assessment. During the standard formulation period, opinions from consumers,

   producers, experts, relevant functional departments, and the public were widely

   consulted, and the deliberations of members of the World Trade Organization were

   accepted. While ensuring the quality and safety of agricultural products, it is in line

   with China's actual situations of agricultural production.

   The formulation of pesticide residue standards is of great significance for regulating

   scientific and rational drug use, strengthening the quality and safety supervision of

   agricultural produce, and combating the illegal use of pesticides. In recent years, the

   Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has cooperated with relevant departments

   in health and market supervision. Through increased efforts in scientific planning

   and key breakthroughs, the standards have seen rapid growth in number and

   continuous improvement in quality, and a system of standards for pesticide residue

   that is compatible with China’s agricultural production and pesticide supervision

   has been basically established. It is learned that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural

   Affairs will ensure that by 2020 China's pesticide residue limit standards and their

   supporting testing standards will reach more than 10,000.  

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