A European Commission regulation published on 23 July 2026 amends maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the fungicide difenoconazole in or on a wide range of food and feed products, tightening limits for certain spices while raising or maintaining levels for many fruits and vegetables. The regulation, adopted as a cover note by the Council, modifies Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 and will apply from six months after its entry into force, which occurs 20 days after publication in the Official Journal.
The new MRLs are based on two European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) assessments: a 2024 reasoned opinion covering numerous crops, and a 2025 assessment of an industry application under Article 6(4) of the base regulation. For bark spices, bud spices, flower pistil spices, and aril spices, MRLs are lowered to the limit of determination (LOD), effectively banning detectable residues. In contrast, MRLs for citrus fruits, tree nuts, mangoes, papayas, dry peas, and soybeans are set at higher levels following the 2025 EFSA evaluation. For products such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, aubergines, pome fruits, stone fruits, grapes, bananas, carrots, tomatoes, broccoli, lettuces, cereals, and animal products, MRLs are adjusted according to the 2024 opinion.
EU food business operators and importers must comply with the new limits after the transition period, potentially requiring changes in sourcing or pest-control practices. EU producers of spices face the most significant impact, as the LOD limits may restrict domestic cultivation or necessitate alternative fungicides. Third-country exporters to the EU, particularly of spices and tropical fruits, will need to adjust their production to meet the new MRLs. Consumers benefit from updated safety standards aligned with the latest scientific risk assessment.
Products placed on the EU market before the application date are exempt, with previous MRLs continuing to apply to them. The regulation does not require any further legislative steps; it enters into force automatically and is binding in all EU Member States.