Pesticides
Growing demand for food has forced producers to maintain the quality of their livestock and crops in the most efficient way. This can involve the use of pesticides. Using these products on crops risks exposing consumers to harmful chemical materials through residues that remain as the animal is reared or as the crop is processed. Setting limits on the maximum levels of these residues ensures that the food is safe to eat.
To protect consumer health, most countries have maximum legal limits for pesticide residues in foods. Trade difficulties can arise when limits differ between countries.
The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) is responsible for establishing Codex Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticide residues in specific food items or in groups of food or feed that move in international trade.
Before a Codex MRL can be established human health risk assessments must be conducted to ensure the food supply is safe. It is the responsibility of the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) to review the appropriate toxicology and data obtained mainly from supervised trials, that reflect approved pesticide use in accordance with "good agricultural practice." JMPR conducts dietary risk assessments and recommends specific MRLs to the Codex Committee.
For a chemical or commodity to be considered for review by the JMPR it must first be nominated by a Member Country to the CCPR Electronic Working Group on Priorities.
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CXG 33-1999 | Recommended Methods of Sampling for the Determination of Pesticide Residues for Compliance with MRLs | CCPR | 1999 | |
CXG 40-1993 | Guidelines on Good Laboratory Practice in Pesticide Residue Analysis | CCPR | 2010 | |
CXG 84-2012 | Principles and Guidance on the Selection of Representative Commodities for the Extrapolation of Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides to Commodity Groups | CCPR | 2017 | |
CXG 90-2017 | Guidelines on Performance Criteria for Methods of Analysis for the Determination of Pesticide Residues in Food and Feed | CCPR | 2017 | |
CXG 97-2022 | Guidelines for the Recognition of Active Substances or Authorized Uses of Active Substances of Low Public Health Concern that are Considered Exempted from the Establishment of Maximum Residue Limits or do not give rise to Residues | CCPR | 2022 | |
CCPR / Meeting concludes “Another successful gathering of the experts on pesticides”
The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) has concluded its 55th session in Chnegdu, P.R. China, with the Committee Chairperson, Dr Weili SHAN, expressing his “sincere thanks” to all the Chairs and co-Chairs of the working groups, and to all delegates for their work and support “to facilitate discussions and to prepare working documents promptly, and significant contribution to the Session”. Mr SHAN went on to say “The CCPR is the member’s committee as well as the observer’s committee. The [...]
CCPR55 / A productive and efficient committee with sense of warm collaboration and mutual respect
The 55th session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR55) is meeting this week, with more than 250 delegates attending the session physically in Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
Mr Xingwang ZHANG, Vice Minister at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, opened the meeting, and welcomed participants by commending the continuous support the Committee and the host country have received from all delegates since 2006. “China introduced a series of major initiatives in [...]
CCPR / Committee plays an increasingly important role in development of international food safety system
Mr. Zhang Xingwang, Vice Minister at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, (pictured above) opened the 54th session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR), taking place from 26 June to 1 July 2023 in Beijing, China.
This committee sets the largest number of numerical standards in Codex and over the past 15 sessions in China has discussed and adopted over 5 000 maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides. CCPR has also revised [...]
Codex in Mauritius / Learning from others
By Shalini Neeliah Codex Contact Point, Mauritius
In 2020, when we signed the project document for the Codex Trust Fund Assistance, we knew we were in for a deep dive. As a developing country, we had a relatively new Codex structure, but we were very keen to improve it so that we fulfill all our obligations as a World Trade Organization member. Participation in Codex meetings was still sporadic, depending largely on the funding of the Codex Trust Fund (CTF).
As a [...]
CCPR / a significant influence on the development of national pesticide residue standards
Opening the 53rd session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR), being held virtually from 4-8 July 2022 , Chief Veterinary Officer LI Jinxiang from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China, said: “The work of the CCPR not only has a significant influence on the development of national pesticide residue standards, but also plays an increasingly important role in strengthening the exchanges and cooperation in pesticide residue control.” He looked forward to a productive meeting where delegates [...]
WTO / new publication recommends land-locked developing countries actively participate in Codex
In line with the SPS Agreement, a new World trade Organization (WTO) publication on easing trade bottlenecks recommends land-locked developing countries (LLDCs) actively participate in the standard-setting processes – under the Codex Alimentarius, the Organisation for Animal Health and the International Plant Protection Convention – to ensure that WTO sanitary and phytosanitary standards meet their needs.
The WTO SPS Agreement sets out the basic rules for food safety and animal and plant health standards. SPS measures are technical in nature and [...]