Pesticide Residues Regulation refers to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, which establishes harmonised maximum residue levels for pesticides in food and feed of plant and animal origin across the EU, with a default limit applying where no specific level is set.
In trade practice
Importers of frozen vegetables, fresh fruit and grains arrange multi-residue pesticide analysis at accredited laboratories before or at EU entry, comparing results against the maximum residue levels in Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. Border inspection posts apply risk-based sampling, and origins subject to enhanced controls face higher inspection frequencies. Organic consignments are not automatically exempt from residue checks; any residue found is assessed against the same regulatory limits. A frequent error is failing to account for the default limit when a specific MRL has not been established for the pesticide-commodity combination.
In a specification
Purchase specifications for plant-origin commodities typically require a multi-residue test report from an accredited laboratory confirming that all detected residues comply with the maximum residue levels set under Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.