Report 2022 : Pesticide residues in food : Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues

Abstract

A Joint Meeting of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues in Food and the Environment and the World Health Organization (WHO) Core Assessment Group on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) was held at FAO Head-quarters, Rome (Italy), from 13 to 22 September 2022. FAO Panel Members met in preparatory sessions from 8 to 12 September. The Meeting was opened by Dr Jingyuan Xia, Director, Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP), FAO. On behalf of FAO and WHO, Dr Xia welcomed and thanked the participants for providing their expertise and for devoting significant time and effort to the work of the JMPR, noting that this was the first physical JMPR meeting since 2019 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 45 participants from 15 countries. Dr Xia highlighted food safety is fundamental to healthy and sustainable food systems. The establishment of pesticide residue standards is a key and critical element in the global effort to improve food safety and agricultural development in the world. The unique role of the JMPRs work in establishing internationally acceptable MRLs for pesticide residues in food and feed which acted as global benchmarks in trade facilitation, as well as providing authoritative assessments, important in consumer protection. Dr Xia then outlined how the JMPRs efforts aligned with the Divisions strategic objectives of ensuring food security and nutrition; enhancing food quality and safety; supporting farmers’ livelihoods; protecting the environment and biodiversity; and facilitating safe trade and economic growth. As the establishment of global standards were a key and critical element in the global efforts to improve food safety and agricultural development in the world. Dr Xia also took the opportunity to express his and called on the meeting participants toexpress their appreciation to Madam YongZhen Yang, retiring FAO JMPR Secretariat, for her dedicated commitment and outstanding contribution in fulfilling the secretariat role over the past 16 years. Dr Soren Madsen, WHO JMPR Secretariat, took the opportunity to thank the FAO for giving priority to JMPR to allow the meeting to occur at FAO headquarters. During the meeting, the FAO Panel of Experts was responsible for reviewing residue and analytical aspects of the pesticides under consideration, including data on their metabolism, fate in the environment and use patterns, and for estimating the maximum levels of residues that might occur as a result of use of the pesticides according to good agricultural practice (GAP). Maximum residue levels and supervised trials median residue (STMR) values were estimated for commodities of animal origin. The WHO Core Assessment Group was responsible for reviewing toxicological and related data in order to establish acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) and acute reference doses (ARfDs), where necessary. The Meeting evaluated 34 pesticides, including seven new compounds and four compounds that were re-evaluated within the periodic review programme of the CCPR, for toxicity or residues, or both. The Meeting established ADIs and ARfDs, estimated maximum residue levels and recommended them for use by CCPR, and estimated STMR and highest residue (HR) levels as a basis for estimating dietary intake. The Meeting also estimated the dietary exposures (both short-term and long-term) of the pesticides reviewed and, on this basis, performed a dietary risk assessment in relation to the relevant ADI and where necessary ARfD. Cases in which ADIs or ARfDs may be exceeded were clearly indicated in order to facilitate the decision-making process by CCPR.