11 February 2010
HC Pub: 100027
ISBN: 978-1-100-14667-6 (print version)
ISBN: 978-1-100-14668-3 (PDF version)
Catalogue number: H113-24/2010-11E (print version)
Catalogue number: H113-24/2010-11E-PDF (PDF version)

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Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is proposing to establish maximum residue limits (MRLs) for azoxystrobin on head and stem Brassica (Crop Subgroup 5A), leafy Brassica greens (Crop Subgroup 5B), fruiting vegetables except cucurbits (Crop Group 8, except tomatoes), caneberries (Crop Subgroup 13-07A), bushberries (Crop Subgroup 13-07B), herbs (Crop Subgroup 19A), spices (Crop Subgroup 19B, except black pepper), cranberries, garden beet tops, globe artichokes, hops, lychees, mangoes, peppermint tops, spearmint tops, sunflower seeds and watercress to permit the import and sale of foods containing such residues. The PMRA is also proposing to amend MRLs established for azoxystrobin on leafy vegetables except Brassica (Crop Group 4), citrus fruits (revised Crop Group 10), bananas, dry bulb onions, dry soybeans, green onions, peanuts, peanut oil, rice and sugar beet roots to permit their import into Canada.

The PMRA has determined the quantity of residues that are likely to remain in or on the imported food commodities when azoxystrobin is used according to label directions in the exporting country. The Agency has also determined that such residues will not be a concern to human health and is proposing to legally establish corresponding import MRLs. An MRL applies to the identified raw agricultural food commodity as well as to any processed food product that contains it, except where separate MRLs are specified for the raw agricultural commodity and a processed product made from it.

Details regarding the import MRLs can be found in the corresponding Evaluation Report that is available in the Pesticides and Pest Management section Health Canada's website, under Public Registry, Pesticide Product Information Database.¹

Consultation on the proposed import MRLs for azoxystrobin is being conducted via this document (see Next Steps, the last section of this document).

To comply with Canada's international trade obligations, consultation on the proposed MRLs is also being conducted internationally by notifying the World Trade Organization, as coordinated by the Standards Council of Canada.

The proposed MRLs for azoxystrobin in Canada in or on food, to replace or be added to those MRLs already legally established, are as follows.

MRLs are proposed for commodities included in the listed crop groupings.

A complete list of all MRLs established in Canada can be found on the Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides webpage in the Pesticides and Pest Management section of Health Canada's website.

International Situation and Trade Implications

The proposed MRLs for azoxystrobin in Canada are the same as corresponding tolerances established in the United States, except for garden beet tops as per Table 2. American tolerances are listed in the  Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR Part 180, by pesticide. Currently, Codex MRLs² have not been established for azoxystrobin on any commodity. A listing of established Codex MRLs is available on the Codex Alimentarius  Pesticide Residues in Food website.

Next Steps

The PMRA invites the public to submit written comments on the proposed import MRLs for azoxystrobin up to 75 days from the date of publication of this document. Please forward your comments to Publications. The PMRA will consider all comments received before making a final decision on the proposed import MRLs for azoxystrobin and posting a corresponding Established Maximum Residue Limit (EMRL) document in the Pesticides and Pest Management section of Health Canada's website.