Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/73 of 16 January 2018 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for mercury compounds in or on certain productsText with EEA relevance.

Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/73 of 16 January 2018 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for mercury compounds in or on certain products (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 February 2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin and amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC OJ L 70, 16.3.2005, p. 1. , and in particular Article 14(1)(a) and Article 16(1)(a) thereof, Whereas: (1) For mercury compounds, maximum residue levels (MRLs) were set in Annex II and Part B of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. (2) Council Directive 79/117/EEC prohibited the placing on the market and use of plant protection products containing mercury compounds. All authorisations of plant protection products containing mercury compounds were revoked and consequently all MRLs were set at the relevant limit of determination (LOD). (3) The Commission received information from food business operators and Member States showing the presence of mercury compounds in several products leading to higher residues than the LOD laid down in Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. (4) Recent monitoring data confirms that residues of mercury compounds occur in several products at levels higher than the LOD. Taking into account the 95th percentile of all the sample results, the following occurrences were reported: tree nuts at 0,02 mg/kg; fresh herbs at 0,03 mg/kg; cultivated fungi at 0,05 mg/kg; wild fungi at 0,50 mg/kg, except for ceps at 0,90 mg/kg; oilseeds at 0,02 mg/kg; teas, coffee beans, herbal infusions and cocoa beans at 0,02 mg/kg; spices at 0,02 mg/kg, except ginger, nutmeg, mace and turmeric at 0,05 mg/kg; meat at 0,01 mg/kg, except for meat of wild game animals at 0,015 mg/kg and duck meat (farmed and wild) at 0,04 mg/kg; animal fat at 0,01 mg/kg; edible offal at 0,02 mg/kg except for offal of wild game animals at 0,025 mg/kg and offal of wild boar at 0,10 mg/kg; milk at 0,01 mg/kg; and honey at 0,01 mg/kg. (5) As mercury containing pesticides have been phased out since more than thirty years in the Union, the presence of mercury in food can be considered due to environmental contamination. It is therefore appropriate to replace the default values with the ones listed in recital 4, thus reflecting environmental background of mercury in Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. This will enable national competent authorities to take appropriate enforcement action on the basis of realistic MRLs. (6) The Scientific Panel on contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) of the European Food Safety Authority, hereinafter the Authority, adopted an opinion on mercury and methylmercury in food EFSA Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM); Scientific Opinion on the risk for public health related to the presence of mercury and methylmercury in food. EFSA Journal 2012;10(12):2985. [241 pp.].

. (7) As mercury compounds occur at low levels in the products listed in recital 4 and taking into account the available consumption data within the Union, the overall contribution to the dietary exposure is considered low and there is no health risk for consumers. The MRLs for those products should be set as temporary in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. Those MRLs will be reviewed; the review will take into account the information available within 10 years from the publication of this Regulation. (8) The Commission consulted the European Union reference laboratories for residues of pesticides as regards the need to adapt the LODs. Those laboratories concluded that the current LODs should be maintained. (9) Based on the opinion of the Authority and taking into account the factors relevant to the matter under consideration, the appropriate modifications to the MRLs fulfil the requirements of Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. (10) Through the World Trade Organisation, the trading partners of the Union were consulted on the new MRLs and their comments have been taken into account. (11) Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 should therefore be amended accordingly. (12) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed, HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 16 January 2018. For the Commission The President Jean-Claude Juncker

Annex

ANNEX Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are amended as follows: (1) In Annex II, the column for mercury compounds is deleted. (2) Annex III is amended as follows: (a) In Part A, the column for mercury compounds is added: Pesticide residues and maximum residue levels (mg/kg) Limit of analytical determination For the complete list of products of plant and animal origin to which MRLs apply, reference should be made to Annex I. (F)Fat soluble Mercury compounds (sum of mercury compounds expressed as mercury) (+) Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information available within 10 years from the date of publication. 0120000Tree nuts0256000 (f) herbs and edible flowers 0280010Cultivated fungi (+) The following MRL applies to ceps: 0,9 mg/kg. Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information available within 10 years from the date of publication. 0280020Wild fungi (+) Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information available within 10 years from the date of publication.

0401000Oilseeds0610000Teas0620000Coffee beans0630000Herbal infusions from0640000Cocoa beans0800000SPICES (+) The applicable maximum residue level for horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) in the spice group (code 0840040) is the one set for horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) in the Vegetables category, root and tuber vegetables group (code 0213040) taking into account changes in the levels by processing (drying) according to Art. 20 (1) of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. 0840040Horseradish (+) Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information available within 10 years from the date of publication. 1011000 (a) Tissues from swine 1012000 (b) Tissues from bovine 1013000 (c) Tissues from sheep 1014000 (d) Tissues from goat 1015000 (e) Tissues from equine (+) The following MRL applies to duck meat: 0,04 mg/kg. Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information available within 10 years from the date of publication. 1016010Muscle (poultry) (+) Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information available within 10 years from the date of publication. 1016020Fat tissue (poultry)1016030Liver (poultry)1016040Kidney (poultry)1016050Edible offals (poultry)1017000 (g) Tissues from other farmed terrestrial animals 1020000Milk1040000Honey and other apiculture products (+) The following MRL applies to offal of wild boar: 0,1 mg/kg. Monitoring data show that residues occur due to environmental contamination. When re-viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information available within 10 years from the date of publication. 1070000Wild terrestrial vertebrate animals Code numberGroups and examples of individual products to which the MRLs applyMercury compounds (sum of mercury compounds expressed as mercury)(1)(2)(3)0100000FRUITS, FRESH or FROZEN; TREE NUTS0110000Citrus fruits0,010110010Grapefruits0110020Oranges0110030Lemons0110040Limes0110050Mandarins0110990Others0120000Tree nuts0,02 (+)0120010Almonds0120020Brazil nuts0120030Cashew nuts0120040Chestnuts0120050Coconuts0120060Hazelnuts/cobnuts0120070Macadamias0120080Pecans0120090Pine nut kernels0120100Pistachios0120110Walnuts0120990Others0130000Pome fruits0,010130010Apples0130020Pears0130030Quinces0130040Medlars0130050Loquats/Japanese medlars0130990Others 0140000Stone fruits0,010140010Apricots0140020Cherries (sweet)0140030Peaches0140040Plums0140990Others0150000Berries and small fruits0,010151000 (a) grapes 0151010Table grapes0151020Wine grapes0152000 (b) strawberries 0153000 (c) cane fruits 0153010Blackberries0153020Dewberries0153030Raspberries (red and yellow)0153990Others0154000 (d) other small fruits and berries 0154010Blueberries0154020Cranberries0154030Currants (black, red and white)0154040Gooseberries (green, red and yellow)0154050Rose hips0154060Mulberries (black and white)0154070Azaroles/Mediterranean medlars0154080Elderberries0154990Others0160000Miscellaneous fruits with0,010161000

(a) edible peel 0161010Dates0161020Figs0161030Table olives0161040Kumquats0161050Carambolas0161060Kaki/Japanese persimmons0161070Jambuls/jambolans0161990Others0162000 (b) inedible peel, small 0162010Kiwi fruits (green, red, yellow)0162020Litchis/lychees0162030Passionfruits/maracujas0162040Prickly pears/cactus fruits 0162050Star apples/cainitos0162060American persimmons/Virginia kaki0162990Others0163000 (c) inedible peel, large 0163010Avocados0163020Bananas0163030Mangoes0163040Papayas0163050Granate apples/pomegranates0163060Cherimoyas0163070Guavas0163080Pineapples0163090Breadfruits0163100Durians0163110Soursops/guanabanas0163990Others0200000VEGETABLES, FRESH or FROZEN0210000Root and tuber vegetables0,010211000 (a) potatoes 0212000 (b) tropical root and tuber vegetables 0212010Cassava roots/manioc0212020Sweet potatoes0212030Yams0212040Arrowroots0212990Others0213000 (c) other root and tuber vegetables except sugar beets 0213010Beetroots0213020Carrots0213030Celeriacs/turnip rooted celeries0213040Horseradishes0213050Jerusalem artichokes0213060Parsnips0213070Parsley roots/Hamburg roots parsley0213080Radishes0213090Salsifies0213100Swedes/rutabagas0213110Turnips0213990Others0220000Bulb vegetables0,010220010Garlic0220020Onions0220030Shallots0220040Spring onions/green onions and Welsh onions0220990Others 0230000Fruiting vegetables0,010231000 (a) solanacea 0231010Tomatoes0231020Sweet peppers/bell peppers0231030Aubergines/eggplants0231040Okra/lady's fingers0231990Others0232000 (b) cucurbits with edible peel 0232010Cucumbers0232020Gherkins0232030Courgettes0232990Others0233000 (c) cucurbits with inedible peel 0233010Melons0233020Pumpkins0233030Watermelons0233990Others0234000 (d) sweet corn 0239000 (e) other fruiting vegetables 0240000Brassica vegetables (excluding brassica roots and brassica baby leaf crops)0,010241000 (a) flowering brassica 0241010Broccoli0241020Cauliflowers0241990Others0242000 (b) head brassica 0242010Brussels sprouts0242020Head cabbages0242990Others0243000 (c) leafy brassica 0243010Chinese cabbages/pe-tsai0243020Kales0243990Others0244000 (d) kohlrabies 0250000Leaf vegetables, herbs and edible flowers0251000 (a) lettuces and salad plants 0,010251010Lamb's lettuces/corn salads0251020Lettuces0251030Escaroles/broad-leaved endives0251040Cresses and other sprouts and shoots0251050Land cresses 0251060Roman rocket/rucola0251070Red mustards0251080Baby leaf crops (including brassica species)0251990Others0252000 (b) spinaches and similar leaves 0,010252010Spinaches0252020Purslanes0252030Chards/beet leaves0252990Others0253000 (c) grape leaves and similar species 0,010254000 (d) watercresses 0,010255000 (e) witloofs/Belgian endives 0,010256000 (f) herbs and edible flowers 0,03 (+)0256010Chervil0256020Chives0256030Celery leaves0256040Parsley0256050Sage0256060Rosemary0256070Thyme0256080Basil and edible flowers0256090Laurel/bay leave0256100Tarragon0256990Others0260000Legume vegetables0,010260010Beans (with pods)0260020Beans (without pods)0260030Peas (with pods)0260040Peas (without pods)0260050Lentils0260990Others0270000Stem vegetables0,010270010Asparagus0270020Cardoons0270030Celeries0270040Florence fennels0270050Globe artichokes0270060Leeks0270070Rhubarbs0270080Bamboo shoots0270090Palm hearts0270990Others

0280000Fungi, mosses and lichens0280010Cultivated fungi0,05 (+)0280020Wild fungi0,5 (+)0280990Mosses and lichens0,010290000Algae and prokaryotes organisms0,010300000PULSES0,010300010Beans0300020Lentils0300030Peas0300040Lupins/lupini beans0300990Others0400000OILSEEDS AND OIL FRUITS0401000Oilseeds0,02 (+)0401010Linseeds0401020Peanuts/groundnuts0401030Poppy seeds0401040Sesame seeds0401050Sunflower seeds0401060Rapeseeds/canola seeds0401070Soyabeans0401080Mustard seeds0401090Cotton seeds0401100Pumpkin seeds0401110Safflower seeds0401120Borage seeds0401130Gold of pleasure seeds0401140Hemp seeds0401150Castor beans0401990Others0402000Oil fruits0402010Olives for oil production0,010402020Oil palms kernels0,020402030Oil palms fruits0,020402040Kapok0,020402990Others0,020500000CEREALS0,010500010Barley0500020Buckwheat and other pseudo-cereals0500030Maize/corn0500040Common millet/proso millet0500050Oat0500060Rice0500070Rye 0500080Sorghum0500090Wheat0500990Others0600000TEAS, COFFEE, HERBAL INFUSIONS, COCOA AND CAROBS0610000Teas0,02 (+)0620000Coffee beans0,02 (+)0630000Herbal infusions from0,02 (+)0631000 (a) flowers 0631010Chamomile0631020Hibiscus/roselle0631030Rose0631040Jasmine0631050Lime/linden0631990Others0632000 (b) leaves and herbs 0632010Strawberry0632020Rooibos0632030Mate/maté0632990Others0633000 (c) roots 0633010Valerian0633020Ginseng0633990Others0639000 (d) any other parts of the plant 0640000Cocoa beans0,02 (+)0650000Carobs/Saint John's breads0,020700000HOPS0,020800000SPICES(+)0810000Seed spices0810010Anise/aniseed0,020810020Black caraway/black cumin0,020810030Celery0,020810040Coriander0,020810050Cumin0,020810060Dill0,020810070Fennel0,020810080Fenugreek0,020810090Nutmeg0,050810990Others0,02 0820000Fruit spices0,020820010Allspice/pimento0820020Sichuan pepper0820030Caraway0820040Cardamom0820050Juniper berry0820060Peppercorn (black, green and white)0820070Vanilla0820080Tamarind0820990Others0830000Bark spices0,020830010Cinnamon0830990Others0840000Root and rhizome spices0840010Liquorice0,020840020Ginger0,050840030Turmeric/curcuma0,050840040Horseradish0840990Others0,020850000Bud spices0,020850010Cloves0850020Capers0850990Others0860000Flower pistil spices0,020860010Saffron0860990Others0870000Aril spices0870010Mace0,050870990Others0,020900000SUGAR PLANTS0,010900010Sugar beet roots0900020Sugar canes0900030Chicory roots0900990Others1000000PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN -TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS1010000Tissues from1011000 (a) swine (+)1011010Muscle0,011011020Fat tissue0,011011030Liver0,02 1011040Kidney0,021011050Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)0,021011990Others0,011012000 (b) bovine (+)1012010Muscle0,011012020Fat tissue0,011012030Liver0,021012040Kidney0,021012050Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)0,021012990Others0,011013000 (c) sheep (+)1013010Muscle0,011013020Fat tissue0,011013030Liver0,021013040Kidney0,021013050Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)0,021013990Others0,011014000 (d) goat (+)1014010Muscle0,011014020Fat tissue0,011014030Liver0,021014040Kidney0,021014050Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)0,021014990Others0,011015000

(e) equine (+)1015010Muscle0,011015020Fat tissue0,011015030Liver0,021015040Kidney0,021015050Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)0,021015990Others0,011016000 (f) poultry 1016010Muscle0,01 (+)1016020Fat tissue0,01 (+)1016030Liver0,02 (+)1016040Kidney0,02 (+)1016050Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)0,02 (+)1016990Others0,011017000 (g) other farmed terrestrial animals (+)1017010Muscle0,011017020Fat tissue0,011017030Liver0,02 1017040Kidney0,021017050Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)0,021017990Others0,011020000Milk0,01 (+)1020010Cattle1020020Sheep1020030Goat1020040Horse1020990Others1030000Birds eggs0,011030010Chicken1030020Duck1030030Geese1030040Quail1030990Others1040000Honey and other apiculture products0,01 (+)1050000Amphibians and Reptiles0,011060000Terrestrial invertebrate animals0,011070000Wild terrestrial vertebrate animals0,04 (+) (b) In Part B, the column for mercury compounds is deleted.