Online Training Modules - Center of Excellence for Regulatory Science in Agriculture

CODEX Alimentarius Overview

The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) is a subsidiary body of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) that advises on all matters related to pesticide residues. Its primary objective is to develop Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), in order to protect the health of the consumer while facilitating international trade. Before the EPA can register a pesticide that is used on raw agricultural products, it must establish a tolerance (MRL) or exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. A tolerance (MRL) is established to account for the highest pesticide residue level that is expected based on pesticide applications, made in accordance with the use directions listed on the registered product label. One of the primary functions of a tolerance (MRL) is an enforcement to ensure compliance with the registered label.

Pesticide Risk Assessments

Assessing Pesticide Risk: In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for assessing the risk associated with pesticides and make decisions pertaining to registration and MRLs.

Risk Assessment and Management of Pesticides in Foods (RAMPF) M1: History of Pesticide Regulation

The regulations of pesticides in the United States has evolved in the last century through science and law.u003cbru003eEvaluation of pesticides, as well as governing the license and registration process of all pesticides used in the U.S., determine and minimize risks to human health and the environment.

RAMPF M2: Hazard Identification

The EPA’s Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) conducts risk assessments as an integral component of the decision making process prior to registering a pesticide.

RAMPF M3: Dose-Response Assessment

The EPA relies on the availability of a wide variety of standard toxicity studies when conducting risk assessments. Once a pesticide’s toxicological profile is defined, the EPA will use this information for the dose-response assessment to identify levels of concern to use in evaluating the risk posed by human exposure to the pesticide.

RAMPF M4: Dietary Exposure – Residues

To assess potential risks from the exposures to a pesticide, the EPA determines the residues on food used to complete the dietary exposure assessment for pesticides.u003cbru003eEstimated risk from a pesticide is a function of both the hazard of the chemical and the potential exposures, specifically from residues concentrations in food and feeds, that could result from the use of that pesticide.

RAMPF M5: Dietary Exposure – Consumption

Through the risk assessment process, the EPA evaluates a pesticide to determine the inherent hazard of that pesticide as well as how often and how much a person or the environment is expected be exposed to that pesticide, specifically through diet.

RAMPF M6: Assessments – Screening Levels

It is EPA’s policy to conduct risk assessments using a tiered approach, proceeding from simple to more complex analyses as needed.u003cbru003eThe OPP usually conducts a screening-level exposure assessment and will increase the level of complexity as required when estimating dietary exposures and conducting dietary risk assessments.

RAMPF M7: Refinements for Dietary Risk Assessments

Through the risk assessment process, the United States Environmental Protection Agency uses refinements of the input data and more realistic exposure assumptions to evaluate a pesticide and conduct refined dietary risk assessments.

RAMPF M8: Establishing Tolerance Levels

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires that a tolerance for residues of a pesticide be established in order for a pesticide residue to be legally present on any food or feed commodity.

RAMPF M9: Enforcement of Pesticide Tolerances

U.S. regulators help ensure that food treated with a pesticide is safe to eat by setting limits (tolerances) for pesticide residues based on safety standards and monitoring the presence of the residues in or on foods and feeds.

RAMPF M10: Tolerances as a Trade Tool

One of the primary functions of a tolerance (maximum residue limit or MRL) is an enforcement tool to ensure compliance with the registered pesticide product label. Tolerances (MRL) also facilitate trade of agricultural commodities.