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. 2022 Aug 25;20(8):e07539. doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7539
Code (a) Commodity Existing MRL (b) Data gap(s) Art.12 Review Proposed MRL Conclusion/recommendation
Enforcement residue definition: Thiabendazole
0130010 Apples 4(ft1) Footnote related to data gaps No 3 and No 9 4 The data gaps identified by EFSA concerning potential consumer exposure to the metabolite benzimidazole (from food and feed) have been addressed for this GAP (post‐harvest). The MRL is confirmed. No consumer intake concerns identified. The previous consumer risk assessment remains valid.
0163010 Avocados 20 (ft2) Footnote related to data gap No 4 7 or 15 (Further risk management considerations required) The data gap identified by EFSA concerning the lack of GAP‐compliant residue trials has been addressed by means of an adjusted GAP and new residue trials. The resulting MRL (7 mg/kg) is lower than the existing tentative EU MRL of 20 mg/kg. An alternative MRL proposal based on the Codex MRL (15 mg/kg) was also identified. Risk for consumers is unlikely for the calculated MRL and for the Codex MRL.
0211000 Potatoes 0.04 (ft3) Footnote related to data gaps No 2, No 3 and No 9 0.04 The data gap identified by EFSA concerning the storage stability of the metabolite benzimidazole has been addressed. The data gaps identified by EFSA concerning potential consumer exposure to the metabolite benzimidazole (from food and feed) have been addressed for this GAP (seed treatment). The MRL is confirmed. No consumer intake concerns identified. The previous consumer risk assessment remains valid.
Enforcement residue definition: Sum of thiabendazole and 5‐hydroxythiabendazole, expressed as thiabendazole
1011010 Swine Muscle 0.05* (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*

The updated livestock dietary burden indicates that for EU PPP uses of thiabendazole no residues above the LOQ are expected. The MRL proposal at the LOQ is supported by the available data and the risk for consumers is unlikely.

There are no CXLs for these commodities. The confirmatory data requirement for information on analytical methods has been addressed. The confirmatory data requirement for information on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole has not been addressed but is superseded by the revised livestock dietary burden calculation where no residues above the LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg are expected to occur in swine commodities.

1011020 Swine Fat 0.05* (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1011030 Swine Liver 0.15 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1011040 Swine Kidney 0.3 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1011050 Swine Edible offals (other than liver and kidney) 0.3 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1012010 Bovine Muscle 0.1 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01* or 0.1 (Further risk management considerations required)

The updated livestock dietary burden indicates that for EU PPP uses of thiabendazole no residues above the LOQ are expected. An MRL proposal at the LOQ is supported by the available data and the risk for consumers is unlikely. The confirmatory data requirement for information on analytical methods has been addressed.

The confirmatory data requirement for information on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole has not been addressed for the Codex MRLs of 0.1 mg/kg, on which the existing EU MRL is based.

An MRL proposal reflecting the veterinary MRL of 0.1 mg/kg implemented by Commission Regulation 37/2010 can be considered by risk managers.

Risk for consumers is unlikely for the Veterinary MRLs and for the Codex MRLs with regard to thiabendazole, however no risk assessment could be done for benzimidazole residues potentially associated to these MRLs.

1012020 Bovine Fat 0.1 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01* or 0.1 (Further risk management considerations required)
1012030 Bovine Liver 0.3 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01* or 0.1 (Further risk management considerations required)

The updated livestock dietary burden indicates that for EU PPP uses of thiabendazole no residues above the LOQ are expected. The MRL proposal at the LOQ is supported by the available data and the risk for consumers is unlikely. The confirmatory data requirement for information on analytical methods has been addressed.

The confirmatory data requirement for information on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole has not been addressed for the Codex MRLs (0.3 and 1 mg/kg) on which the existing EU MRLs are based.

An MRL proposal reflecting the veterinary MRL of 0.1 mg/kg implemented by Commission Regulation 37/2010 can be considered by risk managers.

Risk for consumers is unlikely for the Veterinary MRLs and for the Codex MRLs with regard to thiabendazole, however no risk assessment could be done for benzimidazole residues potentially associated to these MRLs.

1012040 Bovine Kidney 1 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01* or 0.1 (Further risk management considerations required)
1012050 Bovine Edible offals (other than liver and kidney) 1 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01* or 0.1 (Further risk management considerations required)
1013010 Sheep Muscle 0.05* (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01* The updated livestock dietary burden indicates that for EU PPP uses of thiabendazole no residues above the LOQ are expected. The MRL proposal at the LOQ is supported by the available data and the risk for consumers is unlikely. There are no CXLs for these commodities. The confirmatory data requirement for information on analytical methods has been addressed. The confirmatory data requirement for information on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole has not been addressed but is superseded by the revised livestock dietary burden calculation where no residues above the LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg are expected to occur in sheep commodities.
1013020 Sheep Fat 0.05* (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1013030 Sheep Liver 0.15 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1013040 Sheep Kidney 0.3 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1013050 Sheep Edible offals (other than liver and kidney) 0.3 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1014010 Goat Muscle 0.1 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01* or 0.1 (Further risk management considerations required)

The updated livestock dietary burden indicates that for EU PPP uses of thiabendazole no residues above the LOQ are expected. An MRL proposal at the LOQ is supported by the available data and the risk for consumers is unlikely. There are no CXLs for these commodities. The confirmatory data requirement for information on analytical methods has been addressed.

The confirmatory data requirement for information on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole has not been addressed but is superseded by the revised livestock dietary burden calculation where no residues above the LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg are expected to occur in goat commodities.

An MRL proposal reflecting the veterinary MRL of 0.1 mg/kg implemented by Commission Regulation 37/2010 can be considered by risk managers.

Risk for consumers is unlikely for the Veterinary MRLs with regard to thiabendazole, however no risk assessment could be done for benzimidazole residues potentially associated to these MRLs.

1014020 Goat Fat 0.1 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01* or 0.1 (Further risk management considerations required)
1014030 Goat Liver 0.15 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01* or 0.1 (Further risk management considerations required)
1014040 Goat Kidney 0.3 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01* or 0.1 (Further risk management considerations required)
1014050 Goat Edible offals (other than liver and kidney) 0.3 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01* or 0.1 (Further risk management considerations required)
1015010 Equine Muscle 0.05* (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01* The updated livestock dietary burden indicates that for EU PPP uses of thiabendazole no residues above the LOQ are expected. The MRL proposal at the LOQ is supported by the available data and the risk for consumers is unlikely. There are no CXLs for these commodities. The confirmatory data requirement for information on analytical methods has been addressed. The confirmatory data requirement for information on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole has not been addressed but is superseded by the revised livestock dietary burden calculation where no residues above the LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg are expected to occur in equine commodities.
1015020 Equine Fat 0.05* (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1015030 Equine Liver 0.15 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1015040 Equine Kidney 0.3 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1015050 Equine Edible offals (other than liver and kidney) 0.3 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1,016,010 Poultry Muscle 0.05 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9

0.01*

The updated livestock dietary burden indicates that for EU PPP uses of thiabendazole no residues above the LOQ are expected. The MRL proposal at the LOQ is supported by the available data and the risk for consumers is unlikely. The confirmatory data requirement for information on analytical methods has been addressed.

The confirmatory data requirement for information on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole has not been addressed for the Codex MRLs of 0.05 mg/kg on which the existing EU MRL is based. Risk for consumers is unlikely for the for the Codex MRLs with regard to thiabendazole, however no risk assessment could be done for benzimidazole residues potentially associated to these MRLs.

1016020 Poultry Fat 0.05 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1016030 Poultry Liver 0.2 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01* The updated livestock dietary burden indicates that for EU PPP uses of thiabendazole no residues above the LOQ are expected. The MRL proposal at the LOQ is supported by the available data and the risk for consumers is unlikely. There are no CXLs for these commodities. The confirmatory data requirement for information on analytical methods has been addressed. The confirmatory data requirement for information on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole has not been addressed but is superseded by the revised livestock dietary burden calculation where no residues above the LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg are expected to occur in these commodities.
1016040 Poultry Kidney 0.2 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1016050 Poultry Edible offals (other than liver and kidney) 0.2 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1017010 Other farmed terrestrial animals: Muscle 0.05* (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1017020 Other farmed terrestrial animals: Fat 0.05* (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1017030 Other farmed terrestrial animals: Liver 0.15 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1017040 Other farmed terrestrial animals: Kidney 0.3 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
1017050 Other farmed terrestrial animals: Edible offals (other than liver and kidney) 0.3 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
Enforcement residue definition: sum of thiabendazole, 5‐hydroxythiabendazole and its sulfate conjugate, expressed as thiabendazole
1020010 Milk Cattle 0.2 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 7, No 3 and No 9 0.01* or 0.1 (Further risk management considerations required)

The updated livestock dietary burden indicates that for EU PPP uses of thiabendazole no residues above the LOQ are expected. The MRL proposal at the LOQ is supported by the available data and the risk for consumers is unlikely. The confirmatory data requirement for information on analytical methods has been addressed.

The confirmatory data requirement for information on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole has not been addressed for the Codex MRLs of 0.2 mg/kg, on which the existing EU MRL is based.

An MRL proposal reflecting the veterinary MRL of 0.1 mg/kg implemented by Commission Regulation 37/2010 can be considered by risk managers.

Risk for consumers is unlikely for the Veterinary MRL and for the Codex MRL with regard to thiabendazole, however no risk assessment could be done for benzimidazole residues potentially associated to these MRLs

1,020,020 Milk Sheep 0.2 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 7, No 3 and No 9 0.01* The updated livestock dietary burden indicates that for EU PPP uses of thiabendazole no residues above the LOQ are expected. The MRL proposal at the LOQ is supported by the available data and the risk for consumers is unlikely. There is no CXL for this commodity. The confirmatory data requirement for information on analytical methods has been addressed. The confirmatory data requirement for information on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole has not been addressed but is superseded by the revised livestock dietary burden calculation where no residues above the LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg are expected to occur in sheep milk.
1020030 Milk Goat 0.2 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 7, No 3 and No 9 0.01* or 0.1 (Further risk management considerations required)

The updated livestock dietary burden indicates that for EU PPP uses of thiabendazole no residues above the LOQ are expected. The MRL proposal at the LOQ is supported by the available data and the risk for consumers is unlikely. There is no CXL for this commodity. The confirmatory data requirement for information on analytical methods has been addressed.

The confirmatory data requirement for information on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole has not been addressed but is superseded by the revised livestock dietary burden calculation where no residues above the LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg are expected to occur in goat milk.

An MRL proposal reflecting the veterinary MRL of 0.1 mg/kg implemented by Commission Regulation 37/2010 can be considered by risk managers.

Risk for consumers is unlikely for the Veterinary MRL with regard to thiabendazole, however no risk assessment could be done for benzimidazole residues potentially associated to this MRL.

1020040 Milk Horse 0.2 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 7, No 3 and No 9 0.01* The updated livestock dietary burden indicates that for EU PPP uses of thiabendazole no residues above the LOQ are expected. The MRL proposal at the LOQ is supported by the available data and the risk for consumers is unlikely. There are no CXLs for these commodities. The confirmatory data requirement for information on analytical methods has been addressed. The confirmatory data requirement for information on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole has not been addressed but is superseded by the revised livestock dietary burden calculation where no residues above the LOQ of 0.01 mg/kg are expected to occur in horse milk and other milks.
1020990 Milk Others 0.2 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 7, No 3 and No 9 0.01*
Enforcement residue definition: Sum of thiabendazole and 5‐hydroxythiabendazole, expressed as thiabendazole
1030000 Birds eggs 2 (ft4) Footnote related to data gaps No 6, No 3 and No 9 0.01*

The updated livestock dietary burden indicates that for EU PPP uses of thiabendazole no residues above the LOQ are expected. The MRL proposal at the LOQ is supported by the available data and the risk for consumers is unlikely. The confirmatory data requirement for information on analytical methods has been addressed.

There is a Codex MRL of 0.1 mg/kg for this commodity but the confirmatory data requirement for information on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole would also apply to this CXL and it has not been addressed.

Risk for consumers is unlikely for the for the Codex MRL with regard to thiabendazole, however no risk assessment could be done for benzimidazole residues potentially associated to this MRL.

MRL: maximum residue level; NEU: northern Europe; SEU: southern Europe; GAP: Good Agricultural Practice; LOQ: limit of quantification; CXL: Codex maximum residue limit.

(a)

Commodity code number according to Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

(b)

Existing EU MRL and corresponding footnote on confirmatory data.

ft 1: The European Food Safety Authority identified some information on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole as unavailable. When re‐viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information referred to in the first sentence, if it is submitted by 1 July 2019, or, if that information is not submitted by that date, the lack of it.

ft 2: The European Food Safety Authority identified some information on residue trials as unavailable. When re‐viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information referred to in the first sentence, if it is submitted by 1 July 2019, or, if that information is not submitted by that date, the lack of it.

ft 3: The European Food Safety Authority identified some information on storage stability and on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole as unavailable. When re‐viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information referred to in the first sentence, if it is submitted by 1 July 2019, or, if that information is not submitted by that date, the lack of it.

ft 4: The European Food Safety Authority identified some information on analytical methods and on the magnitude of residues of the metabolite benzimidazole as unavailable. When re‐viewing the MRL, the Commission will take into account the information referred to in the first sentence, if it is submitted by 1 July 2019, or, if that information is not submitted by that date, the lack of it.