[Updated] Japan's Revised MRLs for Pesticides and Veterinary Drugs in 2024
Sep 19, 2024
Rose Hong
In Japan, MHLW formulates the maximum residue limits for all pesticides, feed additives, and veterinary drugs in food products to avoid harming human health.
Inspection of imported food for pesticide residues will be carried out at the quarantine station. According to the Food Sanitation Act, the sale and import of food with exceeding pesticide residues shall be prohibited.
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 September 18, 2024, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) released an amendment to the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for 12 pesticides and veterinary drugs. The amendment came into effect immediately upon publication. However, the changes to the MRLs for six specific pesticides and veterinary drugs will be implemented one year after the publication date.
Noteworthy limited changes
Pesticides | Foods | After (ppm) | Before (ppm) |
Isopyrazam | Nectarine | 6.00 | 0.01 |
Honey | 0.05 | / |
Peach, Peach (including pericarp and seeds) | 6.00 | 5.00 |
... |
Teflubenzuron (One-year grace period) | Oriental pickling melon | 0.30 | 0.01 |
Grapefruit | 0.01 | 0.50 |
Tea | 15.00 | 20.00 |
... |
3-Nitrooxypropanol | Cow muscle | 0.01 | / |
Cow fat | 0.01 | / |
Milk | 0.01 | / |
... |
Phenoxyethanol | Fish and shellfish (limited to Perciformes fish) | 0.06 | 0.01 |
Fluoxastrobin | Cherry | 1.00 | 0.01 |
Prothiofos (One-year grace period) | Soybeen | 0.03 | 0.05 |
Burdock | 0.08 | 0.10 |
Honey | 0.05 | / |
... |
Flonicamid (One-year grace period) | Grapefruit | 2.00 | 3.00 |
Orange (including navel orange) | 2.00 | 3.00 |
Honey | 0.05 | / |
... |
Broflanilide | Corn | 0.01 | / |
Soybeen | 0.07 | / |
Cabbage | 2.00 | 0.40 |
... |
Hexaconazole (One-year grace period) | Peach | / | 0.10 |
Peach (including pericarp and seeds) | 0.70 | / |
Honey | 0.05 | / |
... |
Benthiavalicarb-isopropyl (One-year grace period) | Green onion (including leek) | 0.50 | 0.70 |
Tomato | 1.00 | 2.00 |
Eggplant | 1.00 | 2.00 |
... |
Polyoxorim-zinc | Asparagus | 0.50 | / |
Honey | 0.05 | / |
Metaflumizone (One-year grace period) | Melon (including pericarp) | 1.00 | / |
Lemon | 5.00 | 8.00 |
Grape | 5.00 | / |
... |
Feel free to contact ChemLinked if you need translation service for the complete limit changes. |
March 15, 2024
On March 15, 2024, Japan MHLW issued an amendment that to revise the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for various pesticides and veterinary drugs in certain foods. Additionally, the list of exempted substances was also modified. This amendment came into effect immediately upon its publication, but the changes in the MRLs for certain pesticides and veterinary drugs will be implemented one year after the publication date. Refer to the table below for specific details.
Noteworthy limited changes
Pesticides | Foods | After (ppm) | Before (ppm) |
Isofetamid* (One-year grace period) | Pork and its fat | 0.02 | 0.01 |
Honey | 0.05 | 0.01 |
Broccoli | 15 | 0.01 |
... |
Quizalofop ethyl and quizalofop P tefuryl (One-year grace period) | Carrot | 0.05 | 0.1 |
Tomato | 0.02 | 0.05 |
Honey | 0.05 | 0.01 |
... |
Chlorfluazuron (One-year grace period) | Tea | 5 | 10 |
Milk | 0.02 | 0.03 |
Beef, Pork, chicken and other edible meats from terrestrial mammals | 0.01 | 0.02 |
... |
Tebufenpyrad (One-year grace period) | Honey | 0.05 | 0.01 |
Raspberry | 0.01 | 0.2 |
Grapefruit | 0.7 | 1 |
... |
Fluxametamide (One-year grace period) | Garlic | 0.05 | 0.01 |
Lemon | 0.5 | 0.7 |
Grapefruit | 0.5 | 0.7 |
... |
Mosapride* | Milk | 0.07 | 0.01 |
*The MRLs for Isofetamid and Mosapride in certain food items will come into effect starting from May 31, 2024. Feel free to contact ChemLinked if you need translation service for the complete limit changes. |
Exempted substances
In addition, the MHLW has made adjustments by excluding Cinnamic Aldehyde from the list of exempted substances and including Cinnamaldehyde as a newly exempted substance for pesticides and feed additives.
March 4, 2024
On March 4, 2024, Japan MHLW issued an amendment announcing the revision of Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for nine pesticides and veterinary drugs, including iprodione. The amendment will come into effect upon its publication, and the changes to the MRLs for following six compounds will be implemented one year after the publication date.
Noteworthy limited changes
Pesticides | Foods | After (ppm) | Before (ppm) |
Iprodione (One-year grace period) | Broccoli | 0.01 | 25 |
Walnut | 0.01 | 10 |
Cress | 0.01 | 5 |
... |
Dicloromezotiaz | Chicory | 15 | 0.01 |
Komatsuna | 10 | 0.01 |
Bok choy | 7 | 0.01 |
... |
Cyfluthrin (One-year grace period) | Honey | 0.05 | 0.01 |
Okra | 0.2 | 0.01 |
Apple | 0.7 | 0.9 |
... |
Cyflufenamid (One-year grace period) | Nectarine | 2 | 0.01 |
Apricot | 2 | 0.01 |
grape | 0.4 | 0.5 |
... |
| Dimesulfazet | Seafood | 0.08 | 0.01 |
1,4-Dimethylnaphthalene | Potato | 15 | 0.01 |
Paraquat (One-year grace period) | Passionfruit | 0.01 | 0.2 |
Sugarcane | 0.02 | 0.3 |
Tea | 0.2 | 0.3 |
... |
Pydiflumetofen (One-year grace period) | Milk | 0.01 | 0.03 |
Soba | 3 | 0.01 |
Bok choy | 50 | 0.01 |
... |
Buprofezin (One-year grace period) | honey | 0.05 | 0.01 |
okra | 2 | 0.01 |
Orange | 3 | 2 |
... |
Feel free to contact ChemLinked if you need translation service for the complete limit changes. |
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