EU legislation on MRLs

Insect decline is a global phenomenon caused by multiple factors, one of them is the use of pesticides. Especially for the group of neonicotinoids, risks to bees have been identified. Based on the available knowledge, reducing the use of neonicotinoids is an effective action to tackle pollinators decline. Pollinators play an important role in supporting ecosystem functions and food production worldwide. Food and feed consumed in the EU should not contribute to the global decline of pollinators, independently of whether the product is produced in the EU or imported from non-EU countries. For this reason, a new Regulation was adopted to lower the Maximum Residues Levels (MRLs) for two neonicotinoids (clothianidin and thiamethoxam) to limit of quantification (technical zero).

This Regulation is part of the EU’s ambition to promote sustainable food production on a global stage, which is a component of the Farm to Fork Strategy and it is coordinated with other EU programmes such as the EU pollinators initiative, addressing the main known causes for pollinator decline and strengthening the collaboration between all the actors concerned. In view of the important role that pollinators play in supporting food production, the EU considers that their protection is essential in sustainable food systems.

This is the first time that a Regulation lowering MRLs is based on environmental grounds. It will become applicable in 2026 to ensure that it permits operators in third countries, especially in least developed and developing countries, to adapt to the new rules A corrigendum amending Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/334 corrects a mistake in footnote 19 (page 31, recital 8).

The EU is actively supporting the generation and implementation of more sustainable alternatives to promote the transition towards sustainable production. In this context, it funds several programmes to help non-EU countries, in particular developing countries, to comply with EU legislation. In addition the EU remains actively involved at international cooperation and coordination for a, promoting harmonised measures to tackle environmental issues of global concern as environmental problems that transcend national boundaries cannot be addressed by one country – or region – alone.

Funded programmes

• AGRINFO
• Fit For Market+ (FFM+)
• PlantwisePlus
• Better Training for Safer Food

• EU 2025/115 
  Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/115 of 21 January 2025 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for fluxapyroxad, lambda-cyhalothrin, metalaxyl, and nicotine in or on certain products
• EU 2025/146 
  Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/146 of 29 January 2025 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for zoxamide in or on certain products
• EU 2025/158 
  Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/158 of 29 January 2025 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for acetamiprid in or on certain products
• EU 2025/195 
  Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/195 of 3 February 2025 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for fenbuconazole and penconazole in or on certain products
• EU 2025/581 
  Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/581 of 27 March 2025 amending Annexes II and IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for cycloxydim, dichlorprop-P, flupyradifurone, methyl nonyl ketone, plant oils/citronella oil, potassium sorbate and potassium phosphonate in or on certain products
• EU 2025/854 
  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/854 of 7 May 2025 concerning a coordinated multiannual control programme of the Union for 2026, 2027 and 2028 to ensure compliance with maximum residue levels of pesticides and to assess the consumer exposure to pesticide residues in and on food of plant and animal origin and repealing Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/989
• EU 2025/1163 
  Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/1163 of 13 June 2025 amending Annexes II, III and V to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for chlorpropham, fuberidazole, ipconazole, methoxyfenozide, S-metolachlor and triflusulfuron in or on certain products
• EU 2025/1164 
  Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/1164 of 13 June 2025 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for cyantraniliprole, cyflumetofen, deltamethrin, mefentrifluconazole, mepiquat and oxathiapiprolin in or on certain products
• EU 2025/1212 
  Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/1212 of 24 June 2025 amending Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for acetamiprid in or on certain products
• EU 2025/1305 
  Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/1305 of 2 July 2025 amending Annexes II, III and IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for amidosulfuron, azoxystrobin, hexythiazox, isoxaben, picloram, propamocarb, sodium silver thiosulfate and tefluthrin in or on certain products
• EU 2025/2473 
  Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/2473 of 5 December 2025 amending Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for Betabaculovirus phoperculellae, elemental iron and rape seed oil in or on certain products