The Seventh Plenary Meeting of National MRLs Review Committee was held in Beijing from November 26th to 27th, 2012. It was chaired by Academician Chen Zongmao, Vice Chairman of the Committee.
The Meeting reviewed the proposed texts on 129 MRLs of Abamectin and other 63 pesticides in
food, and the Notes on Setting MRLs for Pymetrozine and other 17 pesticides in Paddy Rice. Consensus was reached on the 121 MRLs of Abamectin and other 61 pesticides, and the MRLs of Pymetrozine and other 17 pesticides in paddy rice as proposed by the Secretariat.
As a Vice Chairman, Sui Pengfei attended and addressed the Meeting. First of all, he appreciated the support given by all the Committee members, and the work done by the Committee in 2012. He pointed out that in accordance with the Notice of the State Council on Releasing the Work Plan of Reassuring Food Safety, the Committee completed the sorting out and amendments of MRLs in food in 2012 ahead of the schedule, and released the National Standards of MRLs in Food (GB2763-2012) specifying 2293 MRLs of 322 pesticides in 10 categories of agri-products. Before the new National Standards, MRLs were guided by duplicated or overlapping standards, and accordingly hard to enforce, which was a long-standing and deep-rooted problem. Now, the new Standards are of great significance to guide and regulate safe use of pesticides in agricultural production, improve supervision on agri-products, and facilitate China's greater participation in Codex standard-setting. For example, 6 new MRLs on tea leaf and in paddy rice proposed by China were adopted by CAC this year.
Sui also called for deeper study on principle issues of MRL-setting, such as the MRL-setting for processed food, so as to safeguard food safety. He hoped the Committee members would assist the government authorities in raising public awareness, addressing public concerns and encouraging consumers' rational choices.
Zhou Puguo, DDG of Department of Crop Production of MOA delivered a speech too. He proposed several recommendations to the Committee work in 2013, and asked for Secretariat's better service so as to further promote the building of MRL system. Ye Jimin, Secretary General of the Committee and other 31 individual members and 5 institutional members attended the Meeting.
(Source: Residue Control Division,
ICAMA)