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.
The role of Codex in Pesticides
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
Related Codex Texts
CXG 68-2008
Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Animals
TFFBT
2008
CXG 69-2008
Guidelines for the Validation of Food Safety Control Measures
CCFH
2008
CXG 70-2009
Guidelines for Settling Disputes on Analytical (Test) Results
CCMAS
2009
CXG 71-2009
Guidelines for the Design and Implementation of National Regulatory Food Safety Assurance Programmes Associated with the Use of Veterinary Drugs in Food Producing Animals
CCRVDF
2009
CXG 72-2009
Guidelines on Analytical Terminology
CCMAS
2009
CXG 73-2010
Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Pathogenic Vibrio Species in Seafood
CCFH
2010