The European Commission revises residue limits for three key crop protection substances

The European Commission has adopted Regulation (EU) 2026/215 of 29 January 2026, amending Annexes II and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 concerning maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the pesticides dimoxystrobin, ethephon and propamocarb in certain food and feed products.

Published in the Official Journal of the European Union, the new regulation introduces technical adjustments following detailed scientific evaluations, with the aim of ensuring consumer protection and maintaining confidence in EU food safety controls.

Substance-specific adjustments

Dimoxystrobin

Dimoxystrobin is a fungicide used in agriculture to control fungal diseases in cereals, oilseeds and grassland. However, its approval as an active substance was not renewed in the EU, leading to a general revision of existing MRLs. As a result, MRLs have been withdrawn and set at the analytical limit of determination (LOD) for all products.

This means that detectable residues must remain below the lowest threshold measurable by current analytical methods, reinforcing a stricter control approach for this substance in food products.

Ethephon

Ethephon is a plant growth regulator used, among other purposes, to accelerate fruit ripening. Following a review of scientific and toxicological data, the regulation adjusts MRLs for several crops.

For example, the new rules propose reducing the limits applicable to apples and blueberries, in line with less critical agricultural practices and to prevent exceedance of the acute reference dose (ARfD) for consumers. In other products such as nuts, cherries, tomatoes or olives, existing MRLs are maintained, reflecting a balanced approach between consumer safety and continuity of authorised uses.

Propamocarb

Propamocarb is another fungicide widely used in horticultural crops such as lettuce, radishes and rocket. In the case of lettuce, the regulation lowers the standard MRL (for example, from 40 to 30 mg/kg), in accordance with risk assessment recommendations to ensure that consumer exposure remains within safe limits.

By contrast, other uses of propamocarb — such as in radishes or romaine rocket — have seen MRL increases in recent years to facilitate safe agricultural practices and prevent rejections due to residue levels that do not pose a demonstrated health risk.

Regulatory framework and food safety

MRLs define the maximum amount of pesticide residue permitted in food or feed following its application in the field, ensuring that consumption does not exceed levels considered safe by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and other scientific bodies.

The EU framework governing MRLs, set out in Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, is periodically reviewed to incorporate new toxicological data, evolving usage patterns and best agricultural practices.

The entry into force of these changes reinforces the EU’s commitment to high food safety standards, providing farmers, operators and control authorities with an updated and clear framework for managing pesticide residues throughout the food supply chain.