Pesticide Registration Toolkit

Maximum Residue Limits

Introduction

A Maximum residue limit (MRL) is the maximum concentration of a pesticide residue (expressed as mg/kg), to be legally permitted in or in food commodities and animal feeds. MRLs are based on Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) data and foods derived from commodities that comply with the respective MRLs are intended to be toxicologically acceptable.

In some countries/regions, MRLs are referred to as maximum residue limits and others as maximum residue levels. The term pesticide tolerance is also used by certain authorities. In the Toolkit, the term maximum residue limit is generally applied, following the practice by the Codex Alimentarius.

Shortcuts

Explanation

Links

Codex Alimentarius

Codex Pesticides Residues in Food Online Database

New Zealand MRL webpage

Pesticide Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) legislation around the world

FOODCHAIN ID

FOODCHAIN ID Regulatory Limits

EU MRL database

Search pesticide residues

USEPA pesticide residue tolerances

Pesticide Tolerances

Australian MRLs

Pesticides and veterinary residues

Brazilian MRLs

Monografias autorizadas

New Zealand Food Standards

Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for Agricultural Compounds

International sources

Codex Alimentarius

The main principal international source of MRLs is the Codex Alimentarius. MRLs are set by the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR), based on recommendations made by the FAO/WHO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR).

MRLs can be found in the Codex pesticides in food online database.

The database can be searched by pesticide common name or class as well as by commodity name of code.

 

New Zealand MRL web page

The New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries maintains a web page on pesticide maximum residue limit (MRL) legislation around the world. Links are provides to a large number of national authorities that set MRLs, as well as to their MRL databases if available.

 

FOODCHAIN ID

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) used to maintain an international database of MRLs. This database is now managed by FOODCHAIN ID Regulatory Limits. A free registration is required to access the database that provides access to the U.S. MRLs.
A global MRL database, covering more than 130 countries, is only available at subscription costs.

 

National/regional sources

European Union

The European Commission sets its MRLs applicable in the EU (referred to as maximum residue levels), which are not always the same as Codex MRLs.

The EU MRL database can be searched by pesticide common name or by commodity or commodity groups.

United States of America

The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) sets pesticide residue tolerances applicable in the USA. The official publication of pesticide tolerances for the USA is in the e-Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR). The USEPA provides guidance on how to obtain MRLs for specific commodities through the e-CFR.

US tolerances can also be accessed through the Global MRL database, mentioned under international sources.

Australia

Australian MRLs are published in the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Instrument No. 4 (MRL Standard). The MRL Standard can be accessed through the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (click on the Federal Register of Legislation link; look for the latest – in force – version of the MRL Standard).

Brazil

Brazilian MRLs are published by Anvisa (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária). They are listed in Monografias autorizadas. Click on the start letter of the active ingredient to access the monograph with the MRLs (in Portuguese).

New Zealand

The MRLs applicable in New Zealand are published in the New Zealand (Maximum Residue Limits of Agricultural Compounds) Food Standards. Click on the link on this page to obtain the most recent version of the standards.