Korea Increases Stringency of Food Pesticide Residues Limits

• MRLs for pesticide residues will be added

• A Positive List System for pesticide residues in foods will be introduced in 2016

On 29 Oct 2015, South Korea’s MFDS released a new notice to supplement requirements on pesticide residues in food.

1. More MRLs for pesticide residues in food products will be laid down in the Food Code. Relevant pesticide residue levels for food categories such as nuts, seeds and tropical fruits (which are primarily imported) will become effective on 31 Dec 2016. MRLs for other agricultural products will be gradually implemented beginning in 2018.

2. Pesticide residues temporarily lacking MRLs shall be managed in accordance with the recently published Positive List System, in which a uniform limit of 0.01ppm will be applied to pesticide residues without fixed residual levels.

3. Newly set MRLs for peanuts and other nut products: lead (0.1ppm); cadmium (0.3ppm).

4. MRL for lead in fruit and vegetable juice has been revised into “lower than 0.05ppm” from 0.3ppm, consistent with that of CODEX and EU standards.