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 68-2008

Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Animals

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 69-2008

Guidelines for the Validation of Food Safety Control Measures

CCFH

2008

CXG 69-2008

Guidelines for the Validation of Food Safety Control Measures

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 70-2009

Guidelines for Settling Disputes on Analytical (Test) Results

CCMAS

2009

CXG 70-2009

Guidelines for Settling Disputes on Analytical (Test) Results

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

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 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

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 72-2009

Guidelines on Analytical Terminology

CCMAS

2009

CXG 72-2009

Guidelines on Analytical Terminology

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 73-2010

Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Pathogenic Vibrio Species in Seafood

CCFH

2010

CXG 73-2010

Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Pathogenic Vibrio Species in Seafood

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

Showing 55 to 60 of 81 entries