Thailand Confirms the Updated ASEAN Pesticides MRL Align with Domestic Standard

On February 20, 2026, the Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published an updated list of harmonized ASEAN Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides in food. This update follows a resolution from the 47th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) held in October 2025. Based on recommendations from the Expert Working Group on Harmonization of Maximum Residue Limits of Pesticides (EWG-MRLs), the meeting endorsed new MRLs for five pesticide-commodity combinations.

Key Changes to ASEAN MRLs

The newly adopted ASEAN MRLs are as follows:

• Carbosulfan in mangosteen: 3 mg/kg

• Dinotefuran in durian: 0.7 mg/kg

• Spinetoram in Chinese broccoli: 10 mg/kg

• Emamectin benzoate in sweet corn (corn-on-the-cob): 0.1 mg/kg

• Iprodione in Chinese broccoli: 30 mg/kg

Impact on Compliance in Thailand

The Thai FDA clarified that its Food Division has reviewed the five newly adopted ASEAN MRLs and determined that limits for these specific combinations are already established under Thai law. The governing regulation is the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) Notification No. 460, B.E. 2562 (2019), Re: Foods Containing Pesticide Residues.

According to the agency, companies must continue to adhere to the MRLs specified in Appendix 2 of MOPH Notification No. 460. The update to the ASEAN MRLs list does not introduce new compliance obligations or change existing limits for food products intended for the Thai market. The primary purpose of publishing the announcement is to ensure information is current and to keep stakeholders informed of regional harmonization efforts.