China submits new maximum residue limits for pesticides in food to the WTO

As we can see from the Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report by the American Department of Agriculture (USDA), the People's Republic of China has recently submitted an extensive list of pesticides with corresponding maximum residue limits (MRLs) to the the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The paper, submitted by China on 19 February, notified the World Trade Organization of draft standards on maximum residue limits. The deadline for comment submissions is 20 April 2018. The proposed date of entry is yet to be determined. The list contains 107 pesticides and the relevant agricultural food products (fruit, vegetables), plus seed and products like coffee. The MRLs refer to the minimum level of residues in mg/kg. The majority of MRLs for the given pesticides in the Chinese draft are 0.x and 0.0x.

The GAIN report notes that, similar to other draft MRLs recently notified to the WTO, these limits will not come into effect until the next revision of the China National Food Safety Standard for Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides in Foods (GB 2763). Until then, the limits set forth in GB2763-2016 remain in effect.