Maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin: implementing powers conferred on the Commission

The European Parliament adopted a report drawn up by Robert STURDY (EPP-ED, UK), and made some amendments to the proposal for a regulation amending Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission.

The main amendments were as follows:

- the products, product groups and/or parts of products referred to in Article 2(1) to which harmonised MRLs shall apply shall be defined in and covered by Annex I. Those measures designed to amend non-essential elements of the Regulation shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny. Annex I shall include all products for which MRLs are set, as well as the other products for which it is appropriate to apply harmonised MRLs in particular in view of their relevance in the diet of consumers or in trade. Products shall be grouped in such a way that MRLs may as far as possible be set for a group of similar or related products;

- in certain paragraphs, where the regulatory procedure with scrutiny applies, Parliament stated that on imperative grounds of urgency, the Commission may use the urgency procedure referred to in Article 45(5) in order to ensure a high level of consumer protection;

- Parliament will have the normal scrutiny period without curtailment on the grounds of urgency for the first establishment of Annexes II and III;

- Parliament did not make any amendments regarding the application of the regulatory procedure with scrutiny to any individual decisions.