Pesticides Used in Rubus and Ribes Species: PHI and MRL in EU and Serbian Legislation

Abstract

The paper compares EU and Serbian legislation pertaining to Pre Harvest Interval (PHI) and Maximum Residue Level (MRL) of pesticides used in Rubus and Ribes species. The number of active substances registered in Serbia for these crops is small; three insecticides (abamectin, dimethoate, spirodiclofen), seven herbicides (dichlobenil, diquat, fluazifop-P-butyl, fluroxypyr, glyphosate, oxyfluorfen, paraquat), fifteen fungicides (azoxystrobin, boscalid, copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, cyprodinil, dodine, fenhexamid, fludioxonil, hydrogen peroxide, iprodione, mancozeb, metalaxyl, pyraclostrobin, pyrimethanil, vinclozolin). Serbian regulations have established the PHI and MRL for Rubus and Ribes species for those pesticides (active substances). Most of the above mentioned pesticides are also used in EU countries according to Annex I Directive 91/414, some of them are in the process for inclusion (application resubmitted) and some are not. However, for all of them the MRL for Rubus and Ribes species are set at EU level. It is important to establish the MRL for a number of reasons, the most important of which is safety and the reduction of possible harmful impact of pesticides to the absolute minimum. For the purpose of export to the EU market, local regulations need to be harmonized with EU legislation.