The Council of the European Union has transmitted a European Commission regulation that amends maximum residue levels (MRLs) for eight pesticides in or on certain products, according to a cover note published on 23 July 2026. The regulation updates Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 for the active substances azoxystrobin, etofenprox, fenpropidin, flupyradifurone, hexythiazox, imazalil, spinosad, and tebufenozide, replacing the existing MRL columns with new values based on updated scientific risk assessments.
The amendment is part of routine EU policy to ensure pesticide residues remain within safe limits for consumers and the environment. The new MRL values, to be inserted by the Publications Office, harmonise limits across EU member states, supporting consistent consumer protection and the functioning of the internal market. Depending on the direction of the changes, the revised limits may tighten or relax residue thresholds for specific crops, reflecting new data or reassessed risks.
Farmers, food importers, and traders will need to comply with the revised limits, which could alter agricultural practices or trade flows. Significant changes to MRLs may also trigger reviews of plant protection product authorisations. The regulation does not specify the exact new values, which will be published in the Official Journal. No prior coverage of this file exists in the last 180 days.