PURPOSE: to amend Regulation 396/2005/EC on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed by introducing a reference to the new regulatory procedure with scrutiny (comitology).
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EC) No 299/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin, as regards the implementing powers conferred on the Commission.
CONTENT: Council Decision 1999/468/EC laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission has been amended by Council Decision 2006/512/EC (CNS/2002/0298).
The amended Decision introduces a new regulatory procedure with scrutiny to be used for measures of general scope which seek to amend non-essential elements of a basic instrument, adopted under co-decision, including by deleting some of those elements or by supplementing the instrument by the addition of new non-essential elements.
Accordingly, this Decision provides that the regulatory procedure with scrutiny is applicable when the Commission defines the scope of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 and the criteria necessary for the establishment of certain maximum residue levels (MRLs) of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin listed in its relevant annexes.
Furthermore, on grounds of efficiency and in order to guarantee economic operators a rapid decision-making process, whilst ensuring a high level of consumer protection, the normal time limits for the regulatory procedure with scrutiny should be curtailed for the adoption of measures setting, including, implementing, modifying or deleting MRLs and establishing a list of active substances for which no MRLs are required, as well as a list of active substance/product combinations where active substances are used as fumigant for post-harvest treatment.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 10/04/2008.