Editor's Note: This article summarizes the changes in Japanese pesticides and veterinary drugs residues, as per the latest developments. Previous contents can be seen at the bottom of the article.
On July 26, 2023, Japan made revisions to the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for Isoprothiolane, Diminazen, Pyridachlometyl. These changes become effective immediately upon publication.
The main changes are shown in the table below.
Pesticides and veterinary drugs | Foods | After (ppm) | Before (ppm) |
Isoprothiolane | Rice (brown rice), other spice | 7 | 10 |
Banana | 0.9 | 0.01 | |
Cattle muscle | 0.04 | 0.02 | |
Pig muscle, animal muscle belonging to other terrestrial mammals | 0.04 | 0,01 | |
Cattle fat | 0.06 | 0.02 | |
Pig fat, animal fat belonging to other terrestrial mammals | 0.06 | 0.01 | |
Cattle liver | 1 | 0.02 | |
Pig liver, animal liver belonging to other terrestrial mammals | 1 | 0.01 | |
Cattle kidney | 0.9 | 0.02 | |
Pig kidney, animal Kidney belonging to other terrestrial mammals | 0.9 | 0.01 | |
Edible part of Cattle | 1 | 0.02 | |
Edible part of pigs, edible part of animals belonging to other terrestrial mammals | 1 | 0.01 | |
Chicken fat and other poultry fat | 0.07 | 0.01 | |
Egg of chicken and other poultry eggs | 0.03 | 0.01 | |
Diminazen | Edible part of cattle | 12 | 6 |
Milk | 0.2 | 0.15 | |
Pyridachlometyl | Soy bean, sugar beet | 0.2 | 0.01 |
Tomato, eggplant, cucumber (including gherkin) | 2 | 0.01 | |
Bell pepper | 3 | 0.01 | |
Watermelon (including pericarp) | 0.5 | 0.01 | |
Melon (including pericarp) | 0.9 | 0.01 | |
Strawberry | 4 | 0.01 | |
• Other spice refers to spices excluding western wasabi, wasabi rhizome, garlic, chili pepper, paprika, ginger, lemon zest, orange zest (including Navel oranges), yuzu zest, and sesame seeds. • Other terrestrial mammals refers to animals belonging to the category of terrestrial mammals, excluding cattle and pigs. • Edible part refers to parts of food that are consumed, excluding muscles, fat, liver, and kidneys. | |||
Notably, there is a one-year transition period for Isoprothiolane limits in peaches, rice (brown rice), and certain spices. The previous limits will continue to be applicable until July 26, 2024, after which the revised limits will take effect.
Reference link
[1] Amendment 0726
Click on the date to view historical content.
On May 31, 2023, the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan revised the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for five pesticides and veterinary drugs. The substances affected by these revisions are Acequinocyl, Isofetamid, Pyriproxyfen, Pethoxyfenozide, and Mosapride. These changes take effect from the date of publication.
Pesticides | Revision |
Acequinocyl | Revised the MRLs in 11 foods. New MRLs have been set for zuiki and vegetable (excludes zuiki and lotus), which are 2ppm and 15ppm respectively. |
Isofetamid | Revised the MRLs in nine foods, among which MRL in guava was 500 times lower than before. |
Pyriproxyfen | Only the MRLs in bananas was raised from 0.01ppm to 0.7ppm. |
Pethoxyfenozide | Revised the MRLs in eight foods, including tea, coffee bean, etc. |
Mosapride | Revised the MRLs in eight foods, mainly involving muscles, fat and organs of terrestrial mammals. |
Feel free to contact ChemLinked if you need translation service for the complete limit changes. | |
Additionally, a one-year transition period has been provided for certain MRLs.
Pesticides | Foods |
Acequinocyl | Watermelon, Melon, Oriental melon, Lotus, Orange, Loquat, Peach |
Isofetamid | Immature beans, Edamame, Guava |
Pethoxyfenozide | Green onion (including leek), Chicken fat and other poultry fat |
Mosapride | Liver of terrestrial mammals (exclude cattle and pigs) |
Reference link
[1] Amendment 0531
On April 26, 2023, Japan MHLW updated seven pesticides' maximum residue limits (MRLs). They are Isopyrazam, Zoxamide, Trinexapac-ethyl, Pyraziflumid, Pyridalyl, Fludioxonil, and Flutriafol. This update is effective from the publication date, but a one-year transition period is given for some MRLs.
Pesticides | Revision |
Isopyrazam | Increased the MRLs in five foods, and lowered the MRLs in grape and milk. |
Zoxamide | Raised the MRLs in five foods, including bell pepper, eggplant, other solanaceae vegetables and okra. |
Trinexapac-ethyl | Raised the MRLs in 24 foods, and tightened the limit in milk to 0.005 ppm. |
Pyraziflumid | Revised the MRLs in 26 foods, among which MRL in allium tuberosum was 3,000 times higher than before. |
Pyridalyl | Significantly increased the MRLs in four foods, namely, parsley, cryptotaenia japonica, other apiaceae vegetables and other herb. |
Fludioxonil | Changed the MRLs in 64 foods, including 13 foods whose limits were relaxed. |
Flutriafol | Raised the MRLs in 10 foods. Especially the MRL in hops, which was increased by 2,000 times |
Feel free to contact ChemLinked if you need translation service for the complete limit changes. | |
For the following MRLs, MHLW has given a one-year transition period.
Pesticides | Foods |
Isopyrazam | Melon, Peach, Grapes and Milk |
Trinexapac-ethyl | Milk |
Pyraziflumid | Green onion (including leek), Watermelon, Melon, Edamame, Orange, Peach, and other spice |
Fludioxonil | Rice (brown rice), Soy bean, Vicia faba, Broccoli, Chicory, Allium tuberosum, Other Liliaceae vegetables, Watermelon, Melon, Orange, Japanese apricot, Cow fat, Pig fat, Fat of animals belonging to other terrestrial mammals, Chicken fat and other poultry fat. |
Reference link
On March 23, 2023, Japan MHLW released the amendment 0323 No.1, which involving the maximum residue limits (MRLs) of pesticides and veterinary drugs, non-detected substances, test method and exempted substances. The change came into effect on the date of promulgation.
Maximum residues of pesticides and veterinary drugs
According to the amendment, the MRLs for nine pesticides and veterinary drugs were revised. They are Enramaycin, Glicalpyramide, Diaveridine, Sulfathiazole, Tiopronin, Tolclofos-methyl, Pyrifluquinazon, Fosthiazate, and Mepanipyrim. In particular, the MRL for Mepanipyrim in Parsley changed 1,000 times than before, and the MRLs for Tolclofos-methyl in bamboo shoot and ginger was tightened from 2 ppm to 0.01 ppm. For the MRLs in some certain foods, a one-year transition period was given. (Feel free to contact ChemLinked if you need translation service for the complete limit changes.)
In addition, the amendment stipulates the test method for Nitarsone, Nitarsone, Sodium nifurstyrenate, and Roxarsone. These substances can not be detected in food. Beyond that, the test method for trenbolone acetate was revised.
Exempted substances
MHLW designated Smoked Distilled Acetic Acid (liquid smoke that obtained by distilling pyroligneous acid. The active ingredient is acetic acid) as exempted substances that do not harm human health even if they remain in the food. (Find the full list of exempted substances here)
Reference link
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On February 14, 2023, Japan MHLW released an amendment to Specification and Standards for Food, Food additives, Etc., stating that the maximum residue limits (MRLs) of seven pesticides have been revised. They are acynonapyr, trifloxystrobin, fenarimol, fenpyrazamine, fluxametamide, flonicamid, and penthiopyrad. The amendment became effective upon its publication on February 14, 2023, but there is a one-year transition period for the MRLs of the above seven pesticides in some foods. During the transition period, the previous standards are still applicable.
Seven pesticides:
Pesticide | Revision |
Acynonapyr |
|
Trifloxystrobin |
|
Fenarimol |
|
Fenpyrazamine |
|
Fluxametamide |
|
Flonicamid |
|
Penthiopyrad |
|
Feel free to contact ChemLinked if you need translation service for the complete limit changes. | |
Reference link
[1] Amendment to Specification and Standards for Food, Food additives, Etc.,
On November 22, 2022, Japan MHLW issued an amendment to Specification and Standards for Food, Food additives, Etc., which mainly revised maximum residue limits (MRLs) for six pesticides and veterinary drugs. The amendment has come into force since its publication on November 22, 2022. However, the lower MRLs brought by this revision will be officially implemented on November 22, 2023, and enterprises can still follow the previous standards during the one-year transition period.
Six pesticides and veterinary drugs
Pesticide and veterinary drug | Revision |
Etofenprox |
|
Tetraconazole |
|
Nicarbazin |
|
Fenpyroximate |
|
Fluensulfone |
|
Florasulam |
|
Feel free to contact ChemLinked if you need translation service for the complete limit changes. | |
Besides, MHLW has opened a draft for public comments, which aims to revise residue amounts for nine pesticides, non-detectable pesticides, test methods and exempted substances. The formal amendment is expected to be notified in February 2023.
Reference link
[1] Amendment to Specification and Standards for Food, Food additives, Etc.,
[2] Draft revision for the amendment
[3] Assessment of the effects of food on health for DDAC, o-Dichlorobenzene and cloxacillin
[4] Assessment of the effects of food on health for florasulam
On October 26, 2022, Japan MHLW issued the Amendment No.138 to revise maximum residue limits (MRLs) for 11 pesticides and veterinary drugs. The amendment came into effect upon its publication on October 26. However, provisions on the MRLs for Afidopyropen, Cyantraniliprole, Cyfluthrin, Tetraniliprole, Picoxystrobin and Flufenoxuron in some foods have a one-year transition period.
11 Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs
Pesticide and veterinary drug | Food | Remark |
Afidopyropen | Revising the MRLs in 28 kinds of foods, such as milk, spice, wheat, etc., | MHLW increased the residue limit for Afidopyropen in most foods, especially Komatsuna (from 0.01ppm to 5ppm). However, the MRL in milk has become stricter, from the original 0.01ppm to 0.001ppm. |
Cyantraniliprole | Revising the MRLs in 21 kinds of foods, such as strawberry, mango, pig, etc., | In particular, the limit for Cyantraniliprole in Cryptotaenia japonica was greatly increased from 0.01ppm to 20 ppm, 20,000 times as much as that of before. |
Cyfluthrin | Revising the MRLs in 164 kinds of foods, such as orange, melon, milk, etc., | Only 15 foods have Cyfluthrin maximum levels lowered. |
Tetraniliprole | Revising the MRLs in 47 kinds of foods, such as tea, beef, peach, etc., | The limit for Tetraniliprole in Spinach had extremely increasing from 0.01ppm to 30ppm. |
Picoxystrobin | Revising the MRLs in 10 kinds of food, such as Dioscorea japonica, Cabbage, Allium tuberosum, eyc., | / |
Flufenoxuron | Revising the MRLs in 50 kinds of food, such as egg, apple, celery, etc., | Enterprises shall pay attention to the “tree onion”, in which the MRL for Flufenoxuron must not exceed 0.01 ppm, even 1000 times than the previous. |
Pencycuron | Revising the MRLs in 12 kinds of foods, such as milk, fat, muscle, etc., | / |
Lubabegron | Revising edible parts of cattle | The MRL for Lubabegron in edible parts of cattle shall not over 0.2 ppm. |
Feel free to contact ChemLinked if you need translation service for the complete limit changes. | ||
Notably, Ampicillin, Bacitracin and Phenoxymethylpenicillin are regulated as antibiotics. Only the foods listed in the table are allowed to have their specified residue.
Ampicillin | 35 kinds of food including milk, honey and fish, etc. |
Bacitracin | 28 kinds of food including milk, eggs and edible parts of cows, etc. |
Phenoxymethylpenicillin | 5 kinds of food including fat/muscles, and edible parts of pigs, etc. |
In addition, the amendment added "abscisic acid" as an exempted substance. From the results of various toxicity tests, no problematic toxicity findings were observed due to exposure to abscisic acid (ABA for short) via food. ABA is a plant hormone distributed in plants and has been widely used. Therefore, Japanese Food Safety Commission (JFSC) believed that abscisic acid, as a pesticide, would not harm human health as long as it was used normally follow the available methods of use.
Reference link
On August 30, 2022, Japan MHLW released an amendment to Specification and Standards for Food, Food additives, Etc., which mainly revised the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for seven pesticides and veterinary drugs and formulated the specifications for potassium bicarbonate as an additive. The amendment became effective upon its publication on August 30.
Seven pesticides and veterinary drugs
Pesticide and veterinary drug | Food | Remark |
Etoxazole | 8 kinds of foods, such as spinach, loquat, orange. | In particular, the limit for Etoxazole in spinach is greatly increased from 0.01ppm to 20 ppm, 20,000 times as much as that of before. |
Triflumizole | 13 kinds of foods, such as onion, eggplant, strawberry. | / |
1-Naphthaleneacetic acid | 5 kinds of foods: mango, orange, melon, the fruit of amanatsu, and other spice. | / |
Flometoquin | 5 kinds of foods: orange, cucumber, cucumber (including Gherkin), other asteraceae vegetables, other Solanaceae vegetables, and other herb. | The limit for Flometoquin in other asteraceae vegetables (increased from 0.01ppm to 40ppm) becomes less restrictive. |
Permethrin | 5 kinds of foods: sugar beet, tomato, Grape, Avocado,and other brassicaceae vegetables. | / |
Bentazone | 160 kinds of foods, such as milk, cow muscle, date palm. | The MRLs for Bentazone in 137 kinds of food are lowered. Notably, the limit for bentazone in allium tuberosum becomes more stringent than before, changing from 2ppm to 0.01ppm. |
Metominostrobin | Mango | The MRL for Metominostrobin in mango is greatly increased from 0.01ppm to 1 ppm, 100 times as much as that of before. |
Feel free to contact ChemLinked if you need translation service for the complete limit changes. | ||
There is still a one-year transition period for pesticides etoxazole, triflumizole, 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid, permethrin, and bentazone. Stakeholder shall pay attention to the effective time, and ensure the residue of pesticides in the food complies with Japanese regulatory requirements before export.
Additive
The amendment also pointed out that potassium bicarbonate would be added to Ordinance for Enforcement of the Food Sanitation Act Table 1, which collects additives that are considered by MHLW to pose no risk to human health.
In addition, the specifications for potassium bicarbonate have also been formulated, including ingredient content, character, confirmation tests, etc. Moreover, it is stipulated that potassium bicarbonate can only be used for grape juice and food in wine making.
Reference link
On August 10, 2022, Japan MHLW released an amendment to Specification and Standards for Food, Food additives, Etc. According to the amendment, MHLW revised the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for seven pesticides and veterinary drugs, and defined benzoic acid as an exempted substance. The amendment came into effect immediately after the promulgation.
Seven pesticides and veterinary drugs
Pesticide and veterinary drug | Food | Remark |
Spinosad | 19 kinds of foods, such as Napa cabbage, Celery, Immature peas, Huckleberry, Tea. | The MRLs for Spinosad in these foods are slightly down, excluding Immature peas, Huckleberry, and Tea. |
Sulfoxaflor | 63 kinds of foods, such as Rice (brown rice), Wheat, Soy bean, Adzuki bean, Konjac. | The MRLs for Sulfoxaflor in these all 63 foods have been increased. |
Pyraflufen-ethyl | 50 kinds of foods, such as Rice (brown rice), Soy bean, Potato, Konjac, Daikon (including radish) Root and Leaves. | The limit levels of Pyraflufen-ethyl in these 50 kinds of food are decreased. |
Pyrantel and Morantel | 16 kinds of foods, such as Liver of cattle, Liver of pigs, The liver of animals belonging to other terrestrial mammals, Cow muscle, milk. | It is noteworthy that MHLW relaxed the requirements for the MRLs related to cow. |
Benthiavalicarb-isopropyl | 2 kinds of foods: Oriental melon (including pericarp) and spice. | The MHLW raised the MRLs of Benthiavalicarb-isopropyl in Oriental melon from 0.01 ppm to 0.5 ppm. In spice, the limit level changed from 5ppm to 6ppm. |
Polyoxorim-zinc | 37 kinds of foods, such as Rice (brown rice), Napa cabbage, Onion, Green onion (including leek), Garlic. | The limit levels of Polyoxorim-zinc in these 37 kinds of food are decreased. |
Polyoxin complex | 17 kinds of foods, such as Rice (brown rice), Carrot, Parsley, Celery, Cryptotaenia japonica. | The MRLs for Pyrantel and Morantel in 10 foods become lower. |
Feel free to contact ChemLinked if you need translation service for the complete limit changes. | ||
In addition, provisions on the MRLs of Spinosad, Sulfoxaflor and Pyraflufen-ethyl in some foods have a one-year transition period. Besides, for Pyrantel and Morantel, Polyoxorim-zinc and Polyoxin complex, the previous provisions are still applicable within one year from the date of promulgation.
Exempted substances
Up to now, MHLW has designated 75 exempted substances that do not harm human health even if they remain in the food. The newest one was benzoic acid, which was designated as the No. 75 exempted substance on August 10, 2022 by MHLW.
According to the food safety risk assessment result by the Japanese Food Safety Commission (JFSC), there is no particular need to consider the acceptable daily intake of benzoic acid as a feed additive, and it is clear that there is no risk of harming human health by remaining in food as long as it is normally used as a feed additive.
Reference link
On May 20, 2022, Japan MHLW released an amendment to the Standards and Criteria for Food and Food Additives, etc. According to the amendment, the maximum residue limits (MRLs) of Uniconazole P, Oxathiapiprolin, Cadusafos, Pyribencarb, Fenazaquin, Broflanilide, Pendimethalin were revised, involving 116 kinds of food. The raised MRLs have come into force since its publication on May 20, 2022, while the rest will have a one-year transition period.
The details are shown in the tables below.
Uniconazole P:
Food | After | Before |
Rice (brown rice) | 0.02 | 0.1 |
Sugar beet, Cabbage, Strawberry | 0.05 | 0.1 |
Brussels sprout | 0.01 | 0.1 |
Tomato | 0.05 | 0.01 |
Oxathiapiprolin:
Food | After | Before |
Peach (including pericarp and seeds) | 0.07 | 0.01 |
Strawberry | 0.4 | 0.01 |
Blueberry, Huckleberry | 0.5 | 0.01 |
Banana, Avocado, Mango | 0.1 | 0.01 |
Hops | 5 | 0.01 |
The MRL of Oxathiapiprolin in hops was greatly increased from 0.01ppm to 5 ppm.
Cadusafos:
Food | After | Before |
Potato | 0.02 | 0.03 |
Burdock | 0.3 | 0.5 |
Other Asteraceae vegetables | 5 | 0.01 |
Spinach | 0.05 | 0.1 |
Strawberry | 0.03 | 0.05 |
The MRL of Cadusafos in the other Asteraceae vegetables (Asteraceae vegetables other than burdock, Tragopogon porrifolius, artichoke, chicory, endive, garland chrysanthemum, lettuce [including salad vegetables] and herbs) has been increased from 0.01ppm to 5ppm.
Pyribencarb:
Food | After | Before |
Lettuce (including salad vegetables) | 30 | 20 |
Other Asteraceae vegetables | 5 | 0.01 |
Garlic | 0.1 | 0.01 |
Carrot | 0.6 | 0.7 |
Watermelon | / | 0.2 |
Watermelon (including pericarp) | 0.3 | / |
Melon | / | 0.1 |
Melon (including pericarp) | 2 | / |
Okra | 2 | 0.01 |
Orange | / | 0.3 |
Oranges (including outer pericarp) | 5 | / |
Peach | / | 0.5 |
Peach (including pericarp and seeds) | 3 | / |
Strawberry | 8 | 5 |
Grape | 4 | 2 |
The MRL of Pyribencarb in the other Asteraceae vegetables was also changed from 0.01ppm to 5ppm.
Fenazaquin:
Food | After | Before |
Cucumber (including Gherkin), Pumpkin (including squash), Oriental pickling melon, Watermelon (including pericarp), Melon (including pericarp), Oriental melon (including pericarp), Other Cucurbitaceae vegetables | 0.3 | 0.01 |
Immature peas, Immature beans, Edamame, Other vegetables, Oranges (including outer pericarp), The fruit of amanatsu, Lemon, Orange (including navel orange), Grapefruit, Lime, Other citrus fruits | 0.4 | 0.01 |
Peach (including pericarp and seeds), Nectarine, Apricots, Prunus salicina (including prune), Japanese apricot, Strawberry, Blueberry, Cranberry, Other berry, Other fruits | 2 | 0.01 |
Raspberry, Blackberry, Grape, Passiflora edulis | 0.7 | 0.01 |
Ginkgo nuts, Castanea crenata, Pecan, Walnut, Other nuts | 0.02 | 0.01 |
Huckleberry | 0.8 | 0.01 |
Avocado, Pineapple | 0.2 | 0.01 |
Hops | 30 | 0.01 |
Other spice | 0.4 | 0.01 |
The MRL of Fenazaquin was greatly adjusted in the recent revision. As shown in the table above, the limits of Fenazaquin in 10 kinds of food is 200 times as much as that of before. Moreover, the limit in hops is even 3000 times higher than the previous one.
Broflanilide:
The MHLW raised the MRL of Broflanilide in potatoes from 0.01 ppm to 0.04 ppm.
Pendimethalin:
Food | After | Before |
taro | 0.01 | 0.2 |
Rice (brown rice), Konjac, Edamame | 0.02 | 0.2 |
Banana | 0.02 | 0.05 |
The fruit of amanatsu, Lemon, Orange (including navel orange), Grapefruit, Lime, Other citrus fruits | 0.03 | 0.05 |
Milk | 0.03 | 0.01 |
Wheat, Corn, Soy bean, Peanut, Potato, Dioscorea japonica (Dioscorea polystachya), Cabbage, Brussels sprout, Onion, Garlic | 0.05 | 0.2 |
Other cereal, Pea, Vicia faba, Other legumes, Saccharum officinarum, Other vegetables, Apple, Japanese pear, European pear, Grape, Sunflower seeds, Cottonseed | 0.05 | 0.1 |
Watermelon (including pericarp), Melon (including pericarp), Hops, Other spice, Liver of cattle, Liver of pigs, The liver of animals belonging to other terrestrial mammals, Cow kidney, Kidney of pig, Kidney of animals belonging to other terrestrial mammals, Edible parts of cattle, Edible parts of pigs, Edible parts of animals belonging to other terrestrial mammals | 0.05 | 0.01 |
Celery | 0.09 | 0.01 |
Rye | 0.1 | 0.2 |
Other asteraceae vegetables, asparagus | 0.1 | 0.05 |
Turnip root | 0.2 | 0.05 |
Cow muscle, Pig muscles, Animal muscles belonging to other terrestrial mammals | 0.2 | 0.01 |
Daikon (including radish) Leaves, Turnip leaf, Watercress, Komatsuna, Mizuna, Bok choy, Other Brassicaceae vegetables | 0.3 | 0.05 |
Napa cabbage | 0.3 | 0.2 |
Other herb, Cow fat, Pig fat, Fat of animals belonging to other terrestrial mammals | 0.3 | 0.01 |
Green onion (including leek) | 0.4 | 0.2 |
Tree onion, Other Liliaceae vegetables | 0.4 | 0.05 |
Kale | 0.5 | 0.05 |
Carrot | 0.5 | 0.2 |
Lettuce (including salad vegetables) | 4 | 0.2 |
Other potatoes, Daikon (including radish) Root, Horseradish, Chicory, Endive, Glebionis coronaria, Oyster | 0.01 | 0.05 |
Orange | / | 0.05 |
Oranges (including outer pericarp) | 0.03 | / |
Loquat | / | 0.05 |
loquat (excluding peduncle,including pericarp and seeds) | 0.05 | / |
Peach | / | 0.05 |
Peach (including pericarp and seeds) | 0.05 | / |
kiwi | / | 0.05 |
kiwi (including pericarp) | 0.02 | / |
Reference Links
On March 17, 2022, Japan MHLW released the amendment to Food and Food Additive Specification Standard. According to the amendment, the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for Clethodim, Fluazinam, Flutianil, Propargite, Mandipropamid, Metamifop were revised, involving 36 kinds of food. The amendment came into effect immediately after the promulgation.
The details are shown in the table below.
Pesticide and veterinary drug | Food | After (ppm) | Before (ppm) |
Clethodim (Herbicides) | Watermelon (including pericarp), Melon (including pericarp), Oriental melon (including pericarp) | 2 | 0.01 |
Other spice | 0.1 | 0.01 | |
Fluazinam (Fungicides/Acaricide) | Sweet potato | 0.03 | 0.01 |
Loquat, loquat (excluding peduncle,including pericarp and seeds) | 3 | 2 | |
Peach (including pericarp and seeds) | 1 | 0.7 | |
Japanese apricot | 0.2 | 0.1 | |
Guava | 0.01 | 4 | |
Tea | 6 | 5 | |
Flutianil (Fungicides) | Parsley | 5 | 0.01 |
Tomato | 0.2 | 0.3 | |
Bell pepper | 0.3 | 0.01 | |
Eggplant | 0.1 | 0.2 | |
Cucumber (including Gherkin) | 0.09 | 0.2 | |
Pumpkin (including squash) | 0.06 | 0.2 | |
Watermelon | 0.01 | 0.05 | |
Other Cucurbitaceae vegetables | 0.2 | 0.01 | |
Other vegetables | 10 | 0.01 | |
Strawberry | 0.3 | 0.5 | |
Propargite (Acaricide) | Orange | / | 0.2 |
Oranges (including outer pericarp) | 4 | / | |
The fruit of amanatsu, Lemon, Orange (including navel orange), Grapefruit, Lime, Other citrus fruits | 5 | 3 | |
Peach | / | 0.1 | |
Peach (including pericarp and seeds) | 5 | / | |
Prunus salicina (including prune) | 5 | 4 | |
Corn powder | / | 0.2 | |
Corn oil (limited to edible corn oil specified in the Japanese Agricultural Standards for edible vegetable oils and fats, and edible oils that are recognized to have a standard equal to or higher than this.) | / | 0.5 | |
Corn oil (excludes edible corn oil stipulated in the Japanese Agricultural Standards for edible vegetable oils and fats, and edible oils that are recognized to have a standard equal to or higher than this.) | / | 0.7 | |
Peanut oil (limited to refined peanut oil specified in the Japanese Agricultural Standards for edible vegetable oils and fats, and edible oils that are recognized to have a standard equal to or higher than this.) | / | 0.3 | |
Peanut oil (excludes refined peanut oil stipulated in the Japanese Agricultural Standards for edible vegetable oils and fats, and edible oils that are recognized to have a standard equal to or higher than this.) | / | 0.3 | |
Orange juice | / | 0.3 | |
Apple juice | / | 0.2 | |
Mandipropamid (Fungicides)
| Potato | 0.1 | 0.09 |
Green onion (including leek) | 4 | 7 | |
Tomato | 3 | 2 | |
Oriental pickling melon | 0.5 | 0.3 | |
Watermelon | / | 0.2 | |
Watermelon (including pericarp) | 0.2 | / | |
Melon | / | 0.01 | |
Melon (including pericarp) | 0.5 | / | |
Oriental melon | / | 0.01 | |
Oriental melon (including pericarp) | 0.5 | / | |
Immature beans | 1 | 0.01 | |
Edamame | 3 | 2 | |
Orange | / | 0.3 | |
Oranges (including outer pericarp) | 3 | / | |
Cocoa beans | 0.06 | 0.01 | |
Metamifop (Herbicides) | Rice (brown rice) | 0.03 | 0.02 |
Cow fat, Fat of animals belonging to other terrestrial mammals | 0.03 | 0.01 | |
Fish and shellfish | 0.02 | 0.01 |
It is worth noting that this revision has significantly revised the limit requirements for the pesticide Fluazinam and Flutianil. As shown in the table above, the level for Fluazinam in guava was decreased from 4ppm to 0.01ppm, which is much more stringent than before. On the contrary, the limit for Flutiani in tea (increased from 0.01ppm to 5ppm) became less restrictive.
In addition, provisions on the MRLs of four pesticides in the following foods have a one-year transition period. During the period, the previous provisions are still applicable.
Pesticide | Foods |
Fluazinam | Guava |
Flutianil | Tomato, Eggplant, Cucumber (including Gherkin), Pumpkin (including squash), Watermelon, Strawberry |
Propargite | Orange, Oranges (including outer pericarp), Peach, Peach (including pericarp and seeds) |
Mandipropamid | Green onion (including leek), Watermelon, Watermelon (including pericarp), Melon, Melon (including pericarp), Oriental melon, Oriental melon (including pericarp), Orange, Oranges (including outer pericarp) |
Reference Links
On February 25, 2022, Japan MHLW released the amendment to Food and Food Additive Specification Standard, which mainly revised the residue limits of nine pesticides and veterinary drugs. They are Albendazol, Captan, Cyazofamid, Cypermethrin, Zeranol, Pyriofenone, Fluoxastrobin, Procymidone, Mandestrobin. The amendment came into effect immediately after the promulgation.
The main changes are shown in the table below.
Pesticide and veterinary drug | Food | After (ppm) | Before (ppm) |
Albendazol | Fish and shellfish (limited to Perciformes fish) | 0.03 | 0.01 |
Captan | Watermelon (including pericarp) | 3 | 2 |
Melon (including pericarp) | 20 | 15 | |
Okra | 0.05 | 0.01 | |
Japanese pear, European pear | 15 | 10 | |
Quince | 9 | 10 | |
Walnut | 0.5 | 0.01 | |
Cyazofamid | Watercress | 15 | 10 |
Green onion (including leek) | 6 | 2 | |
Allium tuberosum | 6 | 0.01 | |
Tree onion | 6 | 5 | |
Other liliaceae vegetables | 10 | 3 | |
... | |||
Cypermethrin | Kale | 6 | 1.0 |
Tea | 15 | 20 | |
Hops | 0.01 | 20 | |
Milk | 0.1 | 0.05 | |
... | |||
Zeranol | Animal muscles/fat belonging to other terrestrial mammals | 0.002 | 0.02 |
The liver of animals belonging to other terrestrial mammals, Cow kidney, Kidney of animals belonging to other terrestrial mammals, Edible parts of cattle, Edible parts of animals belonging to other terrestrial mammals | 0.01 | 0.02 | |
Pyriofenone | Other solanaceae vegetables | 5 | 0.01 |
Pumpkin (including squash) | 0 . 6 | 0 . 7 | |
Oriental pickling melon | 0 . 2 | 0.01 | |
Watermelon | / | 0 . 0 5 | |
Watermelon (including pericarp) | 0 . 3 | / | |
Melon | 0 . 0 7 | 0 . 2 | |
Oriental melon (including pericarp) | 0.2 | 0.01 | |
Cranberry | 0 . 5 | 0.01 | |
Grape | 4 | 3 | |
Oyster | 1 | 0.7 | |
kiwi (including pericarp) | 2 | 0.01 | |
Guava | 0.01 | 2 | |
Fluoxastrobin | Barley | 0.4 | 0.01 |
Corn, Pig muscles | 0.02 | 0.01 | |
Other cereal,Grape | 2 | 0.01 | |
Liver/kidney/ edible parts of pigs | 0.06 | 0.01 | |
Apple | 1 | 0.01 | |
Japanese pear, European pear | 0.6 | 0.01 | |
Brassica rapa | 0.7 | 0.01 | |
Cow muscle, Soy bean | 0.05 | 0.01 | |
Pig fat, Milk | 0.03 | 0.01 | |
Cow fat | 0.1 | 0.01 | |
Wheat, Adzuki bean, Pea, Vicia faba, Other legumes, Liver/kidney/ edible parts of cows | 0.2 | 0.01 | |
Procymidone | Soy bean, Eggplant | 3 | 2 |
Adzuki bean | 5 | 3 | |
Tomato | 4 | 3 | |
Bell pepper | 10 | 5 | |
The fruit of amanatsu | 2 | 0.01 | |
Lemon, Orange (including navel orange), Grapefruit, Lime, Other citrus fruits | 5 | 0.01 | |
Other spice | 30 | 25 | |
... | |||
Mandestrobin | Cauliflower, Broccoli | 7 | 0.01 |
Glebionis coronaria | 90 | 50 | |
Onion | 0.05 | 0.01 | |
Bell pepper | 6 | 0.01 | |
Other solanaceae vegetables | 10 | 0.01 | |
Spinach | 0.3 | 0.01 | |
Strawberry | 6 | 3 | |
... | |||
Feel free to contact ChemLinked if you need translation service for the complete limit changes. | |||
It is noteworthy that the requirements for MRLs of hops in cypermethrin, and guava in pyriofenone greatly tightened. However, some pesticides are subject to higher residue limits (which means the requirements are less strict), such as the mandestrobin in cauliflower, broccoli and other solanaceae vegetables.
In addition, provisions on the MRLs of seven pesticides in the following foods have a one-year transition period. During the period, the previous provisions are still applicable.
Pesticide | Food |
Captan | Quince |
Cyazofamid | Watermelon, Watermelon (including pericarp), Melon, Melon (including pericarp), Oriental melon, Oriental melon (including pericarp), Orange, Oranges (including outer pericarp), Peach, Peach (including pericarp and seeds) |
Cypermethrin | Rice (brown rice), Soba, Adzuki bean, Pea, Potato, taro, Dioscorea japonica (Dioscorea polystachya), Konjac, Other potatoes, Saccharum officinarum, Turnip root, Turnip leaf, Horseradish, Watercress, Napa cabbage, Burdock, Tragopogon, Artichoke, Chicory, Endive, Glebionis coronaria, Onion... |
Zeranol | Animal muscles/fat/liver/kidney belonging to other terrestrial mammals, Edible parts of cattle, Edible parts of animals belonging to other terrestrial mammals |
Pyriofenone | Pumpkin (including squash), Watermelon, Watermelon (including pericarp),Melon, and Guava |
Procymidone | Watermelon, Watermelon (including pericarp),Melon, Melon (including pericarp), Orange, Oranges (including outer pericarp), Loquat, loquat (excluding peduncle,including pericarp and seeds), Peach, Peach (including pericarp and seeds), kiwi, kiwi (including pericarp) |
Mandestrobin | Watermelon, Watermelon (including pericarp),Melon, Melon (including pericarp), Peach, Peach (including pericarp and seeds) |
Reference Links
February, April, May, June, August, September, October, December 12, December 28
April, May, June, July 11, July 28, August, October, November 29, November 30
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