The establishment of pesticide maximum residue limits (MRLs) not only protects the integrity of the food supply, but also protects domestic agriculture.

China’s response to the World Trade Organization’s Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT)/Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) notifications varies, depending on the impact on trade balance, the value of the commodity, existence of established MRLs, and China’s overall trade relationship with the notifying country, according to ChemLinked.

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According to the article, member countries are required to notify other countries of any new or revised regulations which affect trade and to set up offices (official enquiry points) to answer requests for more information on new or existing measures at the WTH level. In regards to pesticides, TBT includes pesticide/chemical registration regulations and measures concerning food safety, production, environmental and labeling, etc., while SPS is more on MRL establishment/amendment/exemption/cancellation, crop grouping and other agricultural or technical practice for pesticide uses.

China participated in the WTO TBT/SPS notification activities as early as 2003, and has formed a mature response system to support international trade of agricultural products, and protect its domestic agricultural production and consumers. Through the introduction of official comment on MRL notification and studies of recent cases, this article aims to demystify how these WTO MRL notifications impact China’s national pesticide MRL establishment.

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