In line with the EU Green Deal (specifically the Farm to Fork Strategy), the EU Commission announced on 22 June 2022 of its intention to reduce the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) to zero for two active ingredients (clothianidin and thiamethoxam). These two active ingredients are already banned within EU Member States due to their toxicity to pollinator species. This proposal sets a significant precedent as these would be the first active ingredients with zero-tolerance permitted for EU-imported products based on environmental impacts of global concern.
Of similar concern are MRL restrictions (hazard-based criteria) driven by GHS implementation in South Africa – the Act 36 Registrar has proposed the phasing out of CMR (Carcinogenicity, Mutagenicity, and Reproductive Toxicity) category 1a and 1 b active ingredients by 01/06/2024. The creation of a Working Group on 09/06/2022 has been established to inform and propose suitable mitigating measures to the Act 36 Registrar – 22 active ingredients have been identified thus far.
SIZA auditors will need to be aware of the developments of the proposed phase-out of identified active ingredients – if successfully adopted, it would become relevant to producers under code requirement 2.2 of the SIZA Environmental Standard (please see below):
- There is evidence of compliance with a prohibited chemicals list for crop production and crop protection products as per international markets and/or industry norms and standards.
For more information feel free to contact enviro@siza.co.za or call 021 852 8184.
