The European Commission (EC) is constantly proposing the application of a new regulation on maximum allowable residues of active ingredient Metalaxyl on pepper.
According to the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA), the SPS Vietnam Office has sent a second protest letter to the European Commission (EC) regarding the maximum allowable residue (MRLs) of the active ingredient Metalaxyl – a fungicidal agents that cause harm on many crops including pepper.
On 12/12/2016, the EC for the second time proposed the WTO to apply the new regulation level of MRLs with Metalaxyl of 0.05ppm. In this situation, on February 8, 2017, SPS Vietnam Office sent a second petition to the EC, requesting that this level of regulation be not applied.
According to the Vietnam SPS Office, the maximum residue for Metalaxyl that allows residues on pepper imported into Europe for many years is still 0.1ppm, based on the results of research by the Food Safety Authority. Product (EFSA). On 2/4/2015, EFSA continued to announce that the 0.1 ppm MRLs of Metalaxyl had no effect on consumers' health.
In addition, the new proposal raises the MRLs of Metalaxyl from 0.1 ppm to 0.05ppm for pepper as a spice item, used as an added food, with very little use at meals. While Metalaxyl's MRLs applied to other agricultural products such as apples or pears remained at 1ppm; with grapes left to 2 ppm.
As such, the proposed application of the new regulation to raise MRLs to 0.05 ppm of Metalaxyl on pepper is not to protect consumers' health, so it is completely unreasonable, SPS Vietnam argues.
According to VPA, the Metalaxyl residue problem was first mentioned by the EC in April 2016. At that time, the EC submitted to Vietnam, including Vietnam as a member, proposed the WTO to change the permitted MRLs for Metalaxyl residues on pepper imported into Europe to 0.01 ppm.
In September 2016, the SPS Vietnam Office agreed to submit a petition to the EC asking that the MRLs of Metalaxyl be kept at 0.1ppm. Shortly thereafter the EC sent a response to stop considering this, keeping it at 0.1ppm. That decision has helped Vietnamese pepper have many opportunities to enter the European market.
SPS Vietnam is the focal point for the implementation of transparency obligations on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS Agreement) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), implementing The function is the official information channel between Vietnam and WTO members on food hygiene and safety issues.
Source Nhat Duy (Nhip Cau Dau Tu)
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