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 74-2010

Guidelines on Performance Criteria and Validation of Methods for Detection, Identification and Quantification of Specific DNA Sequences and Specific Proteins in Foods

CCMAS

2010

CXG 74-2010

Guidelines on Performance Criteria and Validation of Methods for Detection, Identification and Quantification of Specific DNA Sequences and Specific Proteins in Foods

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 75-2010

Guidelines on Substances used as Processing Aids

CCFA

2010

CXG 75-2010

Guidelines on Substances used as Processing Aids

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 76-2011

Compilation of Codex texts relevant to the labelling of foods derived from modern biotechnology

CCFL

2011

CXG 76-2011

Compilation of Codex texts relevant to the labelling of foods derived from modern biotechnology

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 77-2011

Guidelines for Risk Analysis of Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance

TFAMR

2011

CXG 77-2011

Guidelines for Risk Analysis of Foodborne Antimicrobial Resistance

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 78-2011

Guidelines for the Control of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Chicken Meat

CCFH

2011

CXG 78-2011

Guidelines for the Control of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Chicken Meat

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 79-2012

Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Viruses in Food

CCFH

2012

CXG 79-2012

Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Viruses in Food

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

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