The European Commission has recently formally set the value of 0.4 ppm as a temporary maximum residual limit (tMRL) in potato (products). This value will come into effect on September 02, 2021. The decision saves the industry from immediately having to apply the standard value (detection limit) of 0.01 ppm. This transitional regulation is essential, as it allows time for the industry to remove leftover contamination from storage sheds. 

According to Jean-Pierre Van Puymbrouck, president of Belpotato.be, “This is very positive for the potato sector. An immediate change to the threshold value of 0.01 ppm would have been a disaster, as it was simply not possible in practice. Fortunately, Europe listened to our arguments and we were able to negotiate a temporary MRL.”

The tMRL will be reviewed based on monitoring data which must be submitted to the Commission by December 31, 2021 at the latest, then updated on December 31 of each subsequent year, together with an updated report on the preparation and implementation of cleaning practices. 

This evidence should contribute to gradually drive the reduction of the tMRL over the next few years towards the threshold value of 0.01 ppm, while remaining in line with the reality on the ground. The goal remains not to lose any batch of potatoes or any storage capacity.

The cleaning protocol (available on www.belpotato.be) drawn up last year by Euppa (European processing), Europatat (European trading) and Copa-Cogeca (European producers) resulted in the MRLt of 0.4 ppm. Many companies have already applied it. However, due to lack of time and due to the late presence of potatoes in the sheds due to the coronavirus, this could not yet be done in all the warehouses, or not completely.

Belpotato.be calls on all the operators concerned (producers, traders and industries) to apply it as widely as possible from the end of the destocking of the 2020 harvest, and in any case before the 2021 harvest is put into storage.

The large sampling plan carried out by Belgapom will be used to establish the average residue figures on tubers for the 2020 harvest, and to feed into the report that must be presented to the Commission at the end of 2021. The sector’s commitment to providing correct and updated data each year will contribute to the realistic downward evolution of the tMRL.

You can read the rest of this article in the Spring Issue of Potato Business Digital magazine, which you can access by clicking here.