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 86-2015

Guidelines for the Control of Trichinella Spp. in Meat of Suidae

CCFH

2015

CXG 86-2015

Guidelines for the Control of Trichinella Spp. in Meat of Suidae

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 89-2016

Principles and guidelines for the exchange of information between importing and exporting countries to support the trade in food

CCFICS

2016

CXG 89-2016

Principles and guidelines for the exchange of information between importing and exporting countries to support the trade in food

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 90-2017

Guidelines on Performance Criteria for Methods of Analysis for the Determination of Pesticide Residues in Food and Feed

CCPR

2017

CXG 90-2017

Guidelines on Performance Criteria for Methods of Analysis for the Determination of Pesticide Residues in Food and Feed

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 91-2017

Principles and Guidelines for Monitoring the Performance of National Food Control Systems

CCFICS

2017

CXG 91-2017

Principles and Guidelines for Monitoring the Performance of National Food Control Systems

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 92-2019

Guidelines for Rapid Risk Analysis Following Instances of Detection of Contaminants in Food where there is No Regulatory Level

CCCF

2019

CXG 92-2019

Guidelines for Rapid Risk Analysis Following Instances of Detection of Contaminants in Food where there is No Regulatory Level

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 93-2021

Principles and Guidelines for the assessment and use of voluntary third-party assurance programmes

CCFICS

2021

CXG 93-2021

Principles and Guidelines for the assessment and use of voluntary third-party assurance programmes

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

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