The European Commission (EC) continuously recommends the application of new regulations on the maximum allowable residues of the active ingredient Metalaxyl on pepper plants.
According to the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA), the Vietnam SPS Office has sent a second protest letter to the European Commission (EC) on the issue of maximum allowable residues (MRLs) of the active ingredient Metalaxyl – a fungicides that cause damage to many crops, including pepper.
On December 12, 2016, the EC proposed to the WTO for the second time to apply a new level of MRLs with Metalaxyl of 0.05ppm. Faced with that situation, on February 8, 2017, SPS Vietnam Office continued to send a second petition to the EC, asking not to apply this level of regulation.
According to the Vietnam SPS Office, the maximum residue for Metalaxyl allowed residues on pepper imported into Europe for many years is still 0.1ppm, based on the research results of the Food Safety Authority. European Products (EFSA). On April 2, 2015, EFSA continued to announce that Metalaxyl’s 0.1 ppm MRLs had no effect on consumers’ health.
In addition, the new proposal increases the MRLs of Metalaxyl from 0.1 ppm to 0.05 ppm for pepper as a condiment, used as a food additive, with very little use in meals. While Metalaxyl’s MRLs for other crops such as apples and pears remained at 1ppm; with grapes remaining up to 2 ppm.
Thus, the proposal to apply the new regulation to raise the MRLs to 0.05 ppm of Metalaxyl on pepper is not to protect consumers’ health, so it is completely unreasonable, SPS Vietnam argued.
According to the VPA, the issue of Metalaxyl residues was first mentioned by the EC in April 2016. At that time, the EC submitted to the WTO, including Vietnam as a member, asking the WTO to change the allowable MRLs for Metalaxyl residues on pepper imported into Europe to 0.01 ppm.
In September 2016, the Vietnam SPS Office agreed to submit a Letter of Recommendation to the EC requesting to keep the MRLs for Metalaxyl at 0.1ppm. Immediately after that EC had a response to stop considering this, keeping the level at 0.1ppm. That decision has helped Vietnamese pepper have many opportunities to enter the European market.
SPS Vietnam is the focal point for implementing the transparency obligations on the application of food hygiene and safety and animal and plant quarantine measures (SPS Agreement) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), implementing function as the official communication channel between Vietnam and WTO members on food safety issues.
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