AOAC SPIFAN Stakeholder Program Meeting Book (September 10, 2020)

Chlorate • By-product when using chlorine, chlorine dioxide or hypochlorite for the disinfection of drinking water, water for food production and surfaces coming into contact with food • Sodium chlorate used as a pesticide (defoliant or desiccant) on certain crops in the US; exempted from the requirement of a tolerance for residues • No longer approved as a pesticide in the EU (Commission Decision 2008/865/EC) • EU monitoring data: chlorate levels exceeding 0.01 mg/kg in many crops and products • Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/749 amending Regulation (EC) No 396/2005: • MRLs in regular food set at levels based on ALARA principle (95 th percentile of occurrence data) • 0.01 mg/kg maintained for foods intended for infants and young children

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Chlorate Commission Regulation (EU) 2020/749 amending Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 – example MRLs:

Products

MRL (mg/kg)

Fruits – citrus, pome, stone, berries

0.05

Fruits – miscellaneous other

0.3 0.1

Tree nuts Vegetables

0.05 – 0.7

Pulses

0.35 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.07 0.05

Oilseeds Cereals

Teas, coffee, herbal infusions, cocoa, carobs

Spices

Sugar plants

Products of animal origin - terrestrial animals

0.05 (0.1 for milk and fat)

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