China MOA Releases Two Food Pesticide Residue Guidelines

On 8 Oct 2015, China’s Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) released two guidelines on pesticide residues in food, namely “Guideline on the Risk Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Food” and “Guideline on the Development of Maximum Residue Limits in Food”. The guidelines were formulated in accordance with the “Food Safety Law” and other relevant regulations to align the procedures and technical requirements involved in making pesticide residue limits with sound food science.

Guideline on the Risk Assessment of Pesticide Residues in Food

This guideline aims to direct the risk assessment of pesticide residues in food which refers to the activity of scientific assessment on the possibility and degree of potential risk to health posed by pesticide residues in food through analysis of pesticide toxicological results and residual chemical testing results. The contents of the Guideline include:

• Toxicological assessment

• Residue chemical assessment

• Dietary intake assessment

• Assessment result

• Terms and definitions

Guideline on the Development of Maximum Residue Limits in Food

This guideline aims to direct the formulation and revision of maximum residue limits (MRL) in food. The contents of the Guideline include:

• General procedure

• Re-evaluation

• Periodic evaluation

• Special conditions: Temporary MRL, EMRL, exemption of MRL, MRL for flavors/condiment

• Terms and definitions