How does the regulatory system assess pesticide residues and risks to consumers?
No approval is given for the use of a pesticide product unless it has been demonstrated to have no unacceptable risks to a consumer of produce which has been treated with the pesticide in line with the instructions that the applicant wishes to include on the product label. To do this, data are provided by applicants on two aspects of the pesticide: its toxicology to animals and the residues in a treated crop. This allows CRD’s scientists to carry out a consumer risk assessment as follows: • Calculate acceptable safety levels for residues consumption based on the information on pesticide doses that do not cause health effects in the animal toxicology studies. More detailed information on the pesticide toxicology assessment • Calculate highest residue levels likely in crops after they have been treated with the pesticide according to the instructions on the label. More detailed information on the residues assessment • Determine how much residue will be consumed in food and drink and comp
