Reasoned opinion on the modification of the existing MRLs for quizalofop‐P in oilseed rape, sunflower, cotton and soybean

Abstract

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, Spain, hereafter referred to as the evaluating Member State (EMS), received from Nissan Chemical Europe an application to modify the existing MRLs of quizalofop-P in rapeseed, sunflower, cotton and soybean. Spain drafted an evaluation report in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, which was submitted to the European Commission and forwarded to EFSA. The submitted residue trials lead to MRL proposals of 0.3 mg/kg for rapeseed and 0.4 mg/kg for sunflower. These proposals are already covered by the existing EU MRL of 0.5 mg/kg for rapeseed and by the proposals of 0.7 mg/kg made by EFSA for sunflower in an application related to the ester variant quizalofop-P-tefuryl. EFSA is therefore of the opinion that the uses of quizalofop-P-ethyl on oilseed rape and sunflower do not necessitate any change to the existing EU MRLs or to the proposals done in a previous MRL application. The extrapolations to cotton and soybean are not recommended, since not in line with the rules defined in the current EU guideline. An enforcement method referenced AN34 validated to control quizalofop-P-ethyl residues in oily matrices has been submitted. This method is however an outdated method using techniques no longer in use in laboratories for routine analyses. Considering that a LC-MS/MS method corresponding to the current analytical standards has been developed to analyse the samples from the trials performed from 2007, EFSA is of the opinion that validation data, including an ILV, have to be requested for such an analytical method. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concludes that the proposed uses of quizalofop-P-ethyl on oilseed rape and sunflower will not result in a consumer exposure exceeding the toxicological reference value and therefore is unlikely to pose a consumer health risk.