The European Commission recently decided to let member nations set their own rules for the Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) of imported crops. The temporary measure was set in place in an attempt to relieve strain on the EU’s agri-food sector; dwindling grain supplies caused by the war in Ukraine may soon affect European farmers’ abilities to feed their livestock.
In light of the Commission’s decision, Spain has relaxed its import standards for maize from Brazil and Argentina. Spain is now allowing chlorpyrifos and dichlorvos, two pesticides that are banned by the EU, to exceed MRLs that are considered safe for consumers by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In response, the Commission has urged Spanish authorities to explain their rationale for deviating from standards set by EFSA in regards to consumer safety. To guide EU nations in making decisions about their individual, temporary import requirements, EFSA produced an assessment which warned countries against raising MRLs for chlorpyrifos and dichlorvos.