Managing MRLs to Minimize Trade Troubles
The synchronization of Maximum Residue Levels is an important step facilitating international trade in agricultural goods.
When foreign buyers negotiate trade deals to purchase U.S. commodities, they aren’t just interested in quality and price. They also look at Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs), which can disrupt trade when they are out of sync between the country that is importing food products and the country that is exporting those products.
MRLs are the highest levels of pesticide residue legally allowed in or on food or feed. “The U.S. has established MRLs for about 60 years, longer than any other nation,” says Heidi Irrig, North America MRL and senior regulatory manager for Syngenta.
Any time a new pesticide is registered for use on a food or feed crop in America, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes an MRL for that product. As countries modernize their food standards programs, they often establish national MRLs, which may be different from those established by EPA.
With one out of every three planted U.S. acres bound for export, the lack of global MRL harmonization is a growing concern. Syngenta is working with the U.S. International Trade Commission and CropLife International to address this issue, Irrig says. “We advocate for similar MRLs around the globe so U.S. farmers can provide the best quality, most abundant food supply for consumers worldwide.”
About MRLs: The potential gap between U.S. approvals and foreign import tolerances or MRLs is a global trade issue that affects all pesticides. Syngenta’s approach with MRLs is all about transparency and engaging proactively with our channel customers, growers and exporters to present current MRL information. Syngenta is engaged in ongoing international efforts to harmonize MRL standards. As MRLs may change from time to time, please check with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Ag Service (USDA FAS) Global MRL Database (https://www.globalmrl.com/db#query) for a complete list.
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MRLs are the highest levels of pesticide residue legally allowed in or on food or feed. “The U.S. has established MRLs for about 60 years, longer than any other nation,” says Heidi Irrig, North America MRL and senior regulatory manager for Syngenta.
Any time a new pesticide is registered for use on a food or feed crop in America, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes an MRL for that product. As countries modernize their food standards programs, they often establish national MRLs, which may be different from those established by EPA.
“It can be alarming to hear a pesticide might be in your food,” Irrig says. “MRLs aren’t a safety issue, however. They’re a trade issue.” That’s because MRLs are always set at levels far lower than any toxicologically significant levels, which the EPA defines as the level of exposure that could have any adverse effect on animals, humans or plants.We advocate for similar MRLs around the globe so U.S. farmers can provide the best quality, most abundant food supply for consumers worldwide.
With one out of every three planted U.S. acres bound for export, the lack of global MRL harmonization is a growing concern. Syngenta is working with the U.S. International Trade Commission and CropLife International to address this issue, Irrig says. “We advocate for similar MRLs around the globe so U.S. farmers can provide the best quality, most abundant food supply for consumers worldwide.”
About MRLs: The potential gap between U.S. approvals and foreign import tolerances or MRLs is a global trade issue that affects all pesticides. Syngenta’s approach with MRLs is all about transparency and engaging proactively with our channel customers, growers and exporters to present current MRL information. Syngenta is engaged in ongoing international efforts to harmonize MRL standards. As MRLs may change from time to time, please check with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Ag Service (USDA FAS) Global MRL Database (https://www.globalmrl.com/db#query) for a complete list.
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