Maximum Residue Limits(MRL's)
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General
Most countries have established Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pesticides used in the control of pest and diseases not only to safeguard consumer health but also to minimize the presence of these residues in the environment.
As a condition of market access products exported must comply with these residue standards.
South African export legislation requires inter alia that –
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Only chemical remedies registered in terms of The Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act (Act No. 36 of 1947) are used on the specific crop;
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Crops or agricultural products exported should not exceed the maximum chemical residue limits of the importing countries; and
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Record is kept of the chemical remedies used in spray/fumigation programs and as post harvest treatment
To ensure compliance with legislation monitoring samples are drawn during the quality inspections and analyzed.
The Directorate Food Safety and Quality Assurance, together with other Government Departments and Directorates is responsible for the government-to-government liaison with regard to MRLs on export products or rejectin of consignments by importing authorities.
Exporters and producers have inter alia the responsibility to –
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Comply with the requirements on the correct, approved use and application of pesticide remedies in terms of the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act (Act No. 36 of 1947);
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Keep record of the chemical remedies used in spray programs and as post harvest treatment and to provide this information on request to the responsible authorities;
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Verify the MRLs with their importer or agent in the relevant country;
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Keep up with the registration and re-registration processes of pesticides within South Africa as well as in importing countries; and
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Inform the Directorate Food Safety and Quality Assurance of any rejections by importing country authorities due to residues.
To assist producers and exporters, the following links have been established with the web sites of some importing countries:
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Egypt # |
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| European Union |
Finland #* |
Greece #* |
| (applicable for all EU member states) | ||
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Israel # |
Japan # | Mexico # |
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Sweden * |
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# Accept Codex Alimentarius standards
- EU member state
South African LOCAL MRL's (As published by the Department of Health)
- Final Amendment Pesticide Residues - 2020
- GNR.246 of 11 February 1994 Regulations governing the maximum limits for pesticide residues that may be present in foodstuffs
- No. R. 46 of 2012
- No. R. 247 of 2005
- No. R. 494 of 2001
- No. R. 525 of 2002
- No. R. 548 of 2010
- No. R. 1047 of 2006
- No. R.119 of 2020
South African MRL lists
Fruit
- Kiwi Fruit (February 2024)
- Melons (May 2023)
- Citrus MRL November 2024
- Apples MRL (September 2021)
- Table Grapes MRLs November 2023
- Pineapples (Updated: August 2019)
- Pomegranates (Updated: September 2020)
- Peaches and nectarines maximum residue limits (Updated: September 2020)
- Apricots (updated: July 2021)
- Cherries maximum residue limits (Updated: May 2021 )
- Plums and prunes maximum residue limits(Updated: April 2021)
- Cactus pears (Updated: July 2019)
- Kiwi Fruit (Updated: November 2018)
- Bananas (Updated: June 2021)
- Papayas (Updated: July 2019)
- Granadillas (Updated: February 2022)
- Avocado's (Updated: February 2023)
- Litchi's (Updated: August 2024)
- Mangoes (Updated: May 2024)
- Pears (Updated: September 2019)
- Guavas (Updated: July 2019)
- strawberries (Updated: October 2023)
- Raspberries (Updated: September 2020)
- Gooseberries (Updated: September 2020)
- Blackberries (Updated: September 2020)
- Blueberries (Updated: September 2019)
Dried Fruit
Rooibos