European Commission lowers MRLs for benomyl, carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl to limits of determination
Food business operators and importers must ensure benomyl, carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl residues meet the new EU limits of determination on listed products from 29 January 2027
Change
On 8 July 2026 the European Commission adopted Regulation (EU) 2026/1546, deleting existing MRL entries and lowering EU MRLs for carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl to product-specific limits of determination, listing benomyl, carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl in Annex V, and adopting revised residue definitions; the Regulation applies from 29 January 2027.
Why it matters
The Regulation replaces existing MRL entries for carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl with product-specific LODs, lists benomyl at default MRLs, and removes the import-tolerance basis for many citrus, mango, papaya and okra combinations where supporting Good Agricultural Practices are no longer authorised. It also adopts new residue definitions, including a revised carbendazim definition for products of animal origin. Products placed on the EU market before 29 January 2027 remain subject to the prior MRLs, except for carbendazim in grapefruits, oranges, papayas and mangoes, and thiophanate-methyl in grapefruits, oranges, mandarins, papayas and mangoes, where the new LODs apply without the transitional arrangement.
Implications
- — Food business operators and importers placing listed plant and animal products on the EU market from 29 January 2027 must ensure residues of benomyl, carbendazim and thiophanate-methyl are below the product-specific limits of determination — consignments with residues above the LOD will be non-compliant with Regulation (EU) 2026/1546.
- — Importers of grapefruits, oranges, mandarins, papayas and mangoes must note that for carbendazim (grapefruits, oranges, papayas, mangoes) and thiophanate-methyl (grapefruits, oranges, mandarins, papayas, mangoes) the new LODs apply without the transitional arrangement — pre-29 January 2027 market placement does not shield these specific combinations from the lowered MRLs.
- — EU national food-safety and customs control authorities must enforce the Annex V MRLs from 29 January 2027 and take regulatory action on consignments exceeding the LODs.
- — Accredited pesticide-residue testing laboratories must apply the revised residue definitions (for example, 'sum of carbendazim and 5-hydroxy-carbendazim, expressed as carbendazim' for products of animal origin) when testing products subject to the amended MRLs.
Who is affected
- — Food business operators and importers placing listed plant and animal products on the EU market
- — EU national food-safety and customs control authorities
- — Accredited pesticide-residue testing laboratories
What to watch
- — 29 January 2027 — the amended MRLs (product-specific LODs) apply; products placed on the EU market from this date must meet the new limits.
- — 29 January 2027, no transitional grace — for carbendazim in grapefruits, oranges, papayas and mangoes, and thiophanate-methyl in grapefruits, oranges, mandarins, papayas and mangoes, the new LODs apply without the pre-market-placement transitional arrangement that covers other products.