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 89-2016
Principles and guidelines for the exchange of information between importing and exporting countries to support the trade in food
CCFICS
2016
CXG 90-2017
Guidelines on Performance Criteria for Methods of Analysis for the Determination of Pesticide Residues in Food and Feed
CCPR
2017
CXG 91-2017
Principles and Guidelines for Monitoring the Performance of National Food Control Systems
CCFICS
2017
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 93-2021
Principles and Guidelines for the assessment and use of voluntary third-party assurance programmes
CCFICS
2021