Japan Revises the Maximum Residue Limits of Pesticides in Food

On Jun. 30, 2020, Japan MHLW announced the revision to “Specifications and Standards for Food and Food Additives”. In this amendment, the maximum residue limits of 5 pesticides have been revised. They are Ametoctradin, Picarbutrazox, Pyridine, Prothioconazole and Penthiopyrad. Please click here for the details. (feel free to contact ChemLinked if you need translation service)

In addition, the maximum residue limit of pesticide Pyroxasulfone in some foods is added in this revision. Here are the details.

MRLs (ppm)	Food
0.01ppm	Wheat, Corn, Other miscellaneous grains, Soybean, Soybeans, Pea, Broad bean, Peanut, Other beans, Potato, Taro, Sugar cane, Chinese yam, Other potatoes, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Leeks, Red onion, Other liliaceous vegetables, Other cucurbitaceous vegetables, Ginger, Edamame, Other spices (roots and rhizomes only)
0.02ppm	Sunflower seeds, Safflower seeds, Menjitsu, Other seed oils.
0.07ppm	Other Compositae Vegetables, Celery, Other vegetables, Other herbs.

However, the MRLs of substances listed in the following table will be effective one year after the promulgation.

Pesticides	Food
Picarbutrazox	Radish roots, Onions, Cucumbers, Watermelons, Watermelons (with peel.), Melon fruits, Melon fruits (with peel.)
Pyridine	Watermelons, Watermelons (with peel.), Melon fruits, Melon fruits (with peel.)
Prothioconazole	Beef fat, Pig fat, Other terrestrial mammalian fat; Bovine liver, Pig liver, Other terrestrial mammalian liver; Bovine kidney, Pig kidney, Other terrestrial mammalian kidney; Edible parts for cattle, Edible parts for pigs, Edible parts for other terrestrial mammals; Eggs, Other poultry eggs.
Penthiopyrad	Watermelon, Watermelon (with peel), Melon fruits, Melon fruits (with peel.), Orange, Orange (with peel), Peach, Peach (with peel).