EU Updates Pesticide MRLs for Dimoxystrobin, Ethephon and Propamocarb

🔵 Executive Summary

The European Commission has revised maximum residue levels (MRLs) for several pesticides under Regulation (EU) 2026/215, amending Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

The changes — published on January 30, 2026 — affect dimoxystrobin, ethephon, and propamocarb, with implementation scheduled for August 19, 2026.

The revisions will directly impact the marketing of fruits, vegetables, cereals, and certain animal products within the EU and carry compliance implications for exporting countries.

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📜 Key Regulatory Changes

1️⃣ Dimoxystrobin: Practical Phase-Out

• Approval was not renewed in 2023.

• Existing MRLs have been abolished.

• Products must now comply with the “limit of determination” (LOD) — the lowest level detectable by validated analytical methods.

• Any detectable residue above this threshold is non-compliant.

This effectively removes dimoxystrobin from EU-accepted pesticide use in food production.

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2️⃣ Ethephon: Revised Safety Threshold & Crop-Specific Adjustments

Following a scientific reassessment by EFSA:

• Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) reduced from 0.03 mg/kg body weight/day to 0.02 mg/kg/day.

• Multiple crop MRLs updated accordingly.

Crop-Specific Impacts:

• Apples: MRL reduced due to acute exposure risk concerns.

• Blueberries: MRL set at limit of determination.

• Pineapples: MRL lowered.

• Nuts: MRL unchanged.

• Pears, grapes, barley, rye, wheat, and certain animal products: Temporarily maintained pending review within two years.

Additionally, the residue definition in cereals now includes the total of free ethephon and its conjugates, tightening analytical compliance standards.

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3️⃣ Propamocarb: Lettuce Under Scrutiny

EFSA indicated potential risk in lettuce.

As a result:

• MRL for lettuce has been reduced.

• Other commodities, including some animal-origin foods and honey, see maintained or adjusted limits based on current risk assessments.

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⏳ Transitional Provisions

The Commission has provided an adaptation window:

• Products placed on the market before August 19, 2026 may comply with previous MRLs.

Exceptions (no transition period):

• Ethephon in apples

• Ethephon in blueberries

• Propamocarb in lettuce

Exporters must adjust compliance documentation well before the enforcement date.

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🌍 Trade & Export Implications

The update affects:

• Fresh fruit exporters

• Berry exporters

• Cereal suppliers

• Processed food manufacturers

• Animal-origin product suppliers

For third-country exporters, compliance risk increases due to:

• Lower detection thresholds

• Expanded residue definitions

• Reduced safety margins

Notifications have been communicated to trading partners through the WTO framework.

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🧭 CMB Market Interpretation

This update reinforces the EU’s science-driven regulatory tightening.

Key Observations:

• Dimoxystrobin is effectively eliminated from EU supply chains.

• Ethephon adjustments signal stricter exposure risk thresholds.

• Lettuce exporters face immediate compliance recalibration.

• Analytical testing standards are becoming more granular and complex.

Short-Term Impact:
Increased testing and compliance verification costs.

Medium-Term Impact:
Possible shipment rejections if residue monitoring systems are not upgraded.

Strategic Implication:
Export competitiveness to the EU increasingly depends on integrated residue management and traceability systems.

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📊 Risk Assessment

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📌 Why This Matters Now

• EU continues aligning pesticide thresholds with updated EFSA assessments.

• MRL reductions directly affect high-value fruit exports.

• Detection-level enforcement reduces tolerance for trace residues.

• Compliance preparedness becomes critical ahead of August 2026 enforcement.

The regulatory direction remains toward stricter residue discipline rather than relaxation.

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🏁 Conclusion

The European Commission’s latest MRL revisions tighten residue thresholds for dimoxystrobin, ethephon, and propamocarb, reinforcing a precautionary and science-based regulatory framework.

Exporters targeting the EU market must recalibrate pesticide programs, enhance laboratory monitoring, and ensure supply-chain transparency to avoid compliance disruptions.

As enforcement begins in August 2026, proactive alignment will be essential for maintaining uninterrupted EU market access.