The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues (CCPR) has concluded its 55th session in Chnegdu, P.R. China, with the Committee Chairperson, Dr Weili SHAN, expressing his “sincere thanks” to all the Chairs and co-Chairs of the working groups, and to all delegates for their work and support “to facilitate discussions and to prepare working documents promptly, and significant contribution to the Session”. Mr SHAN went on to say “The CCPR is the member’s committee as well as the observer’s committee. The committee can be successfully held only when all members and observers actively participate in and contribute to it. And with your advice – concluded Mr SHAN – we will make CCPR more efficient, more fruitful and more successful”.

“This was another successful gathering of the experts on pesticides” – said Gracia Brisco, Food Standards Officer, Codex Secretariat – “The goal remains the same: establish Codex Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) that will contribute to protecting consumer health and facilitate fair practices in the food trade”.

The Committee, which will now send new MRLs for adoption by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), has also made good progress on the work on the Guidelines for monitoring the purity and stability of reference materials and related stock solutions of pesticides during prolonged storage which have been sent to CAC for adoption at Step 5. An important success was also the establishment of a plan for the enhancement of work between CCPR and JMPR as this work will have a positive impact in providing more MRLs that will contribute to having safer food.

CCPR also thanked Dr Karsten Hohgardt, Germany, for his long-standing contribution to the work of the Committee, which extended to more than 30 years of service, including his leadership and contribution to the work on the database on national registration of pesticides.

CCPR will continue to explore and expedite ways to increase the establishment of MRLs for pesticides and to look into novel issues in agrifood systems that are at the forefront of MRLs for pesticides.