On October 24, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published reasoned opinion on the modification of the MRL for dicamba in genetically modified soybean.
Abstract
In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, Denmark, hereafter referred to as the evaluating Member State (EMS), received an application from MONSANTO Europe NV to review the residue definition for the active substance dicamba, in order to accommodate the use of dicamba on dicamba-tolerant soybean in the USA. Denmark drafted an evaluation report in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, which was submitted to the European Commission and forwarded to EFSA.
Since the relevant component of the residues in dicamba-tolerant soybean was identified as the metabolite 3,6-dichlorosalicylic acid (DCSA) while dicamba was not detected at harvest, EFSA proposed to set a specific import tolerance of 0.4 mg/kg for the metabolite DCSA in soybean, and not to change the current MRL of 0.05* mg/kg set for dicamba under Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 in conventional plants. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concludes that the proposed use of dicamba on dicamba-tolerant soybean will not result in a consumer exposure exceeding the toxicological reference values proposed for the metabolite DCSA and therefore, is unlikely to pose a consumer health risk.
