7 Accepted

The Trade and Agriculture Commission has concluded that there is likely to be an increase...

Recommendation
The Trade and Agriculture Commission has concluded that there is likely to be an increase in the import of products from Australia produced at lower cost by using pesticides that would not be permitted in the UK. We call upon the UK Government to review its Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for pesticides and bring its import tolerances for imported products into closer alignment with domestic requirements.
Government Response Summary
The government states that existing regulations and import tolerances ensure that imported produce is safe for UK consumers and that the HSE employs monitoring and enforcement activities.
Paragraph Reference
54
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government Accepted
All products imported into the UK under any trade deal must comply with our import requirements. This includes maximum residue levels (MRLs) on imported food, which set out the maximum allowable concentration of a pesticide residue in or on food imports. The UK’s pesticides regulations set a high level of protection for consumers. They are set after a comprehensive scientific assessment of the properties of the active substance and the intended uses of the pesticide. The UK’s regime includes provision for import tolerances, which are MRLs set to take account of residues on imported produce arising from uses and authorisations in other countries. These are set using the same safety criteria as for domestically produced food. Therefore, import tolerances ensure that imported produce is safe for UK consumers to the same level of safety as MRLs applied domestically. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) employs a wide range of monitoring and intelligence-led enforcement activities to ensure that the supply and use of pesticides complies with legal requirements. This includes an annual pesticide residue monitoring programme which is representative of the country’s food supply.
Timeline
Recommendation age 4.0 yrs
Report published 17 Jun 2022