Potato Grower

70 POTATO GROWER | JANUARY 2022 DIGGIN' IN MRLs | By Matt Lantz What is an MRL? Maximum residue levels (MRLs) are a trade standard that represent the amount of a pesticide that can appear on a food product to indicate the food was produced using Good Agricultural Practices. MRLs are not food safety standards, but they are often confused for them by consumers. In the United States, pesticide MRLs are established by the EPA after a thorough review of data. EPA registers a pesticide for use and then sets the MRL for a particular commodity. For growers, meeting domestic MRLs is not difficult. Correctly following the label for pesticide application will result is residues well below the established U.S. MRL. The challenge begins when U.S. growers and processors seek to export their potatoes and potato products to other markets. Why do MRLs matter for exports? Since 1999, numerous markets have modernized their food safety systems, and such an overhaul often involves establishing their own set of pesticide MRLs. At times, those foreign MRLs differ from U.S. standards. Foreign governments with national MRL standards often then test imported products for pesticide residues. Should a violation be detected, severe consequences can occur. These can include rejection of shipments, resulting in destruction or re-export of the product. Violations can also result in future expanded testing for the shipper or even the entire supplying industry. Repeated MRL violations have the potential to close the entire market to a U.S. industry. Why you should care about MRLs The Right Level What issues do U.S. growers face with foreign MRLs? U.S. potato exporters face several challenges when exporting. These include: • Missing MRLs: Sometimes a foreign market will not have a potato MRL established for a pesticide used for potato production in the U.S. In these cases, the foreign MRL may be zero (no residue can be present) or set at a low default tolerance of 0.1 or 0.01 parts per million (PPM). Having a residue present when the foreign country does not have an MRL established is considered a violation. • Restrictive MRLs: Sometimes a foreign MRL has been established for potatoes, but the level is more restrictive than the U.S. MRL. Although the product would be legal in the U.S., exceeding the more restrictive foreign MRL is still considered a violation by the importing country. • Customer interest in the issue: With new MRL systems in place, foreign buyers are more frequently asking U.S. potato suppliers what pesticides have been applied and whether the shipment is compliant with their market's MRLs. At times, customers will insist on pre-shipment residue testing. These requests can be expensive and burdensome. MRLs are a growing trade challenge for U.S. potato exporters. Growers and shippers need to be aware of what pesticide residues are allowed and not allowed in a market. How can I find potato MRLs for different countries? Potatoes USA provides a complete list of U.S. and foreign potato MRLs

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