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 56-2005

Guidelines on the Use of Mass Spectrometry (MS) for Identification, Confirmation and Quantitative Determination of Residues

CCPR

2005

CXG 56-2005

Guidelines on the Use of Mass Spectrometry (MS) for Identification, Confirmation and Quantitative Determination of Residues

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 57R-1999

Regional Guidelines for Codex Contact Points and National Codex Committees (Asia)

CCASIA

1999

CXG 57R-1999

Regional Guidelines for Codex Contact Points and National Codex Committees (Asia)

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 58R-2005

Regional Guidelines for Codex Contact Points and National Codex Committees (Near East)

CCNE

2005

CXG 58R-2005

Regional Guidelines for Codex Contact Points and National Codex Committees (Near East)

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 59-2006

Guidelines on Estimation of Uncertainty of Results

CCPR

2006

CXG 59-2006

Guidelines on Estimation of Uncertainty of Results

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 60-2006

Principles for Traceability / Product Tracing as a Tool Within a Food Inspection and Certification System

CCFICS

2006

CXG 60-2006

Principles for Traceability / Product Tracing as a Tool Within a Food Inspection and Certification System

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

CXG 61-2007

Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Listeria Monocytogenes in Foods

CCFH

2007

CXG 61-2007

Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Listeria Monocytogenes in Foods

EN

FR

ES

AR

ZH

RU

Showing 43 to 48 of 81 entries