A maximum residue limit (MRL) is the highest legally tolerated concentration of a pesticide residue in or on food, set in the EU by Regulation (EC) 396/2005, and used to verify that crop protection practices are safe for consumers.
In trade practice
Exporters must verify that plant protection products applied to a crop are authorised in the country of use and that residues remain within the levels set by Regulation (EC) 396/2005. Laboratories conduct multi-residue pesticide analysis on representative samples, and the resulting certificate of analysis is reviewed by the buyer’s QA team at intake. A common error is testing only for substances used on the specific farm while overlooking environmental carry-over compounds. Some retail buyers apply a private percentage threshold below the legal MRL as an additional contractual requirement, which is an industry convention, not law.
In a specification
Specifications reference Regulation (EC) 396/2005 as the applicable standard and may add a buyer-specific threshold, stated as a percentage of the legal MRL, which the supplier must confirm through accredited laboratory testing on each lot.