New pesticide limits in food 2026: what farmers and industry must review

Key data

Operators in the agri-food sector working with cereals, potatoes, fruits and other plant products face a new obligation to review. The Regulation (EU) 2026/1314, published on 16 June 2026, modifies Annexes II, III and V of Regulation (EC) No. 396/2005 —the European framework regulation on maximum residue limits of pesticides in food— updating the permitted thresholds for six active substances.

These changes are not minor: they directly affect decisions on which plant protection products to apply, at what doses and how long before harvest, as well as the analytical controls that importers and exporters must perform before goods cross a border.

What does this regulation establish?

The regulation updates the maximum residue limits (MRLs) —that is, the maximum concentration of pesticide residue that may be present in a food without posing a health risk— for the following six active substances:

The changes respond to new scientific risk assessments and may involve both increases and reductions in the MRLs in force compared to those established in Annexes II, III and V of Regulation (EC) 396/2005 in its previous version. This means that for some substances and products, the margin of use is expanded; for others, it is narrowed.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not only regulatory: it has direct consequences for business operations and costs.

• Review of plant protection product application protocols: If an MRL is reduced, farmers must adjust doses, frequency or safety periods before harvest to avoid exceeding the new threshold.
• Update of analytical control plans: Operators performing self-checks must update the parameters of their laboratory analyses to reflect the new limits.
• Risk of border rejection: Importers and exporters who do not verify that their goods comply with the new thresholds may suffer detentions or rejections in EU customs controls.
• Product withdrawal from the market: Non-compliance may result in the withdrawal of batches already marketed, with associated economic and reputational costs.
• Administrative sanctions: Non-compliance with MRLs is subject to administrative sanctions in accordance with the national regulations of each Member State.

Who does it affect?

• Farmers using any of the six active substances in their crops (cereals, potatoes, maize, fruits, legumes, grassland).
• Agri-food industry processing or transforming plant products to which these plant protection products are applied.
• Importers of plant products from third countries who must verify compliance with European MRLs at the border.
• Exporters from the EU selling to markets that adopt European regulations as a reference.
• Analytical control laboratories providing residue analysis services to sector operators.
• Agricultural technical advisors and consultants designing plant protection product application programs for their clients.

Practical example

A Spanish potato exporter applying metribuzin as a herbicide in its crop must act on two fronts:

1. Verify whether the new MRL for metribuzin (and its metabolite metribuzin-DADK) in potatoes is more restrictive than the previous one. If the threshold has been reduced, it will need to adjust the applied dose or extend the safety period before harvest.
2. Before each shipment, perform or commission a residue analysis confirming that metribuzin and metribuzin-DADK levels in the batch are below the new MRL. If the batch exceeds the threshold, it cannot be marketed in the EU or exported to markets requiring compliance with Regulation (EC) 396/2005.

The same reasoning applies to an importer of cereals from third countries using chlormequat as a growth regulator: it will need to require its supplier to provide updated analytical certificates with the new MRLs before authorizing release for free circulation in the EU.

What should companies do now?

1. Identify which active substances you use or receive: Check whether 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, chlormequat, metribuzin, metribuzin-DADK, terbuthylazine or triclopyr are among your usual plant protection products or those of your suppliers.
2. Consult the specific new MRLs: Access the full text of Regulation (EU) 2026/1314 on EUR-Lex to learn the exact thresholds by substance and affected agricultural product.
3. Review and update application protocols: If any MRL has been reduced, adjust doses, application frequency or safety periods before harvest in coordination with your agricultural technical advisor.
4. Update analytical self-control plans: Incorporate the new thresholds into laboratory analysis parameters to ensure batches comply before reaching the market.
5. Communicate changes to suppliers and customers: If you import or export, inform your counterparts of the new requirements and demand updated analytical certificates.
6. Monitor the entry into force date: The regulation does not specify an application date in the published data. Monitor the EU Official Journal to learn the exact timeline and not act too late.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601314