§ Mr. HoodTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the maximum level of residue content from pesticides in each vegetable that is permitted by his Department to be sold for consumption; and what are the levels permitted by all other European Community countries.
§ Mr. RyderMaximum residue levels for 53 pesticides in the more important vegetables in the United Kingdom diet were laid down in schedule 2 of the Pesticides (Maximum Residue Levels in Food) Regulations 1988, approved by Parliament in July. The MRLs will come into force on 31 December 1988.
There is an EC directive (76/895 and amendments:) listing MRLs for fruit and vegetables. Member states must accept produce which complies with these MRLs but are free either to set higher limits or to set no limits at all. There is therefore a wide variety of MRLs across Community member states which are subject to frequent change. We are not aware of any complete and up to date list. The EC Commission will shortly propose a further fruit and vegetable directive and MRLs listed in that directive may, once adopted be mandatory throughout the Community.