Proposed Maximum Residue Limit PMRL2020-08, Trifloxystrobin

Pest Management Regulatory Agency
15 July 2020
ISSN: 1925-0843 (PDF version)
Catalogue number: H113-24/2020-8E-PDF (PDF version)

Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has concluded that the addition of new uses on low growing berries (crop subgroup 13-07G) to the product label of Luna Sensation, containing technical grade trifloxystrobin and fluopyram; and the addition of flax to the product labels of USF0728 325 SC Fungicide and Delaro 325 SC Fungicide, containing technical grade prothioconazole and trifloxystrobin, are acceptable. The specific uses approved in Canada are detailed on the labels of Luna Sensation, Pest Control Products Act Registration Number 32107; USF0728 325 SC Fungicide, Pest Control Products Act Number 31435; and Delaro 325 SC Fungicide, Pest Control Products Act Registration Number 31533.

The evaluation of these trifloxystrobin applications indicated that the end-use products have value and the human health and environmental risks associated with the new uses are acceptable.

Before registering a pesticide for food use in Canada, the PMRA must determine the quantity of residues that are likely to remain in or on the food when the pesticide is used according to label directions and that such residues will not be a concern to human health. This quantity is then legally established as a maximum residue limit (MRL). 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.

Consultation on the proposed MRLs for trifloxystrobin is being conducted via this document (see Next Steps). A summary of the field trial data used to support the proposed MRLs can be found in Appendix I. The currently established MRLs for fluopyram and prothioconazole are sufficient to cover residues resulting from these new uses and are therefore, unaffected by this MRL action.

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 Canada’s Notification Authority and Enquiry Point.

The proposed MRLs, to replace or be added to the MRLs already established for trifloxystrobin, are as follows.

MRLs are proposed for each commodity included in the listed crop groupings in accordance with the Residue Chemistry Crop Groups webpage in the Pesticides section of the Canada.ca website.

MRLs established in Canada may be found using the Maximum Residue Limit Database on the Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides webpage. The database allows users to search for established MRLs, regulated under the Pest Control Products Act, both for pesticides or for food commodities.

International Situation and Trade Implications

MRLs may vary from one country to another for a number of reasons, including differences in pesticide use patterns and the locations of the crop field trials used to generate residue chemistry data.

Table 2 compares the MRL proposed for trifloxystrobin in Canada with corresponding American tolerances and Codex MRLs.^{Footnote 1} A listing of established American tolerances is available in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR Part 180, by pesticide. A listing of established Codex MRLs is available on the Codex Alimentarius Pesticide Index webpage, by pesticide or commodity.

Next Steps

The PMRA invites the public to submit written comments on the proposed MRLs for trifloxystrobin 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 MRL. Comments received will be addressed in a separate document linked to this PMRL. The established MRLs will be legally in effect as of the date that they are entered into the Maximum Residue Limit Database.

Appendix I

Summary of Field Trial Data Used to Support the Proposed Maximum Residue Limits

Previously reviewed residue data for trifloxystrobin from field trials conducted on strawberries in the United States in representative Canadian growing regions were re-assessed to support the domestic use on low growing berries (crop subgroup 13-07G). In these trials, trifloxystrobin was applied to strawberries at slightly exaggerated rates and harvested according to label directions. In addition, previously reviewed side-by-side trials conducted with a soluble concentrate formulation of trifloxystrobin and a water dispersible granule formulation of trifloxystrobin on grapes, grasses grown for seed, tomatoes and peaches were re-assessed in order to compare residues resulting from foliar application of each formulation type.

Additionally, residue data for trifloxystrobin in flax were reviewed to support the domestic use on flax. Furthermore, a processing study in treated flax was reviewed to determine the potential for concentration of residues of trifloxystrobin into processed commodities.

Maximum Residue Limits

The recommendation for maximum residue limits (MRLs) for trifloxystrobin was based upon the submitted field trial data, and the guidance provided in the OECD MRL Calculator. Table A1 summarizes the residue data used to calculate the proposed MRLs for low growing berries (crop subgroup 13-07G) and flaxseeds.

Following the review of all available data, MRLs as proposed in Table 1 are recommended to cover residues of trifloxystrobin. Residues of trifloxystrobin in these crop commodities at the proposed MRL will not pose any unacceptable health risks of concern to any segment of the population, including infants, children, adults and seniors.