Efsa raises residue limit for tomato pesticide

The European Food Safety Authority (Efsa) proposed increasing the maximum residue limit of flupyradifurone in tomatoes from 0.7 to 1.5 milligrams per kilogram, following a request from Bayer, the pesticide's manufacturer. This decision was published on October 8 and is based on an assessment of consumer exposure risks.

Pesticide’s chemical family and health effects

Flupyradifurone belongs to the butenolide family and shares similar effects on insect nervous systems with neonicotinoids, a widely studied group of pesticides. Efsa concluded that exposure to flupyradifurone and its metabolite, DFA, through normal agricultural practices is unlikely to pose a health risk in both the short and long term.

Residue limits vary by crop type

While Efsa recommended maintaining the residue limit for DFA at 0.4 milligrams per kilogram in tomatoes, it suggested lowering the limit to 0.08 milligrams per kilogram for greenhouse crops. These adjustments aim to ensure consistent safety standards across different growing environments.

Scientific concerns about pesticide risks

Flupyradifurone has been flagged as a potential endocrine disruptor, raising concerns among some scientists. Pauline Cervan, a toxicologist at Générations futures, highlighted studies showing that similar pesticides can cross the placenta and affect fetal brain development, with additional risks like reproductive toxicity also suspected.

Regulatory process and ongoing reviews

The proposed changes do not immediately alter European regulations, as maximum residue limits are determined by the European Commission. In France, the National Agency for Health Safety (Anses) is separately reviewing flupyradifurone, including its use in sugar beet seed treatment under the agricultural emergency law.

No official response yet

As of now, no official reactions to Efsa’s opinion have been reported. Earlier, on September 16, the European environmental group PAN Europe celebrated the European Parliament’s rejection of a proposal to raise residue limits for flupyradifurone in rapeseed.