Thailand establishes MRLs for certain pesticides

The Ministry of Public Health (MPH) in Thailand has instituted maximum residue levels (MRLs) for four separate pesticides used in connection with certain food types.

The MPH’s Notification No. 393 (2018) sets MRLs for carbosulfan, dithiocarbamates, imidacloprid and dinotefuran when used in connection with the growth of imported mangosteen, longan and mangos, which are three varieties of tropical fruit. The specific MRLs are as follows:

• Carbosulfan in mangosteen—0.02 mg/kg
• Carbosulfan (sum of carbofuran and 3-hydroxycarbofuran) in mangosteen—2.0 mg/kg
• Dithiocarbamates (including zineb, ziram, thiram, propineb, maneb and mancozeb) in longan—15 mg/kg
• Imidacloprid, in mangosteen—0.4 mg/kg
• Dinotefuran, in mango—0.5 mg/kg  

The Notification amends MPH Notification No. 387, issued in 2017, which establishes rules for foods containing pesticide residues. The new MRLs came into force in late October, upon the publication of the Notification. The text of the Notification (in Thai) is available here.