Clopyralid applied to winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) contaminates the food products nectar, honey and pollen

Modification of the existing maximum residue level for clopyralid in honey

“…The available data investigating the metabolic profile in primary and rotational crops indicate that clopyralid (free, conjugated or any forms readily converted to free clopyralid after basic hydrolysis) is the only relevant compound found in wheat, oilseed rape and sugar beet. According to the detailed description of the analytical method used in the tunnel trials performed to generate residue data on honey, the treatment applied to the samples is expected to release clopyralid moiety from its different conjugated forms (Finland, 2023). The same applies to the analytical methods for enforcement in honey (see Section 3.1.1).…”

“…Furthermore, the analytical method used in this study (method 120610) includes a hydrolysis step performed with basic methanol solvent (methanol:10N sodium hydroxide; 100:1) prior to analysis. This extraction is expected to extract all clopyralid residues potentially bound to the matrix (conjugates or other), which were characterised in a series of less polar compounds in the metabolism studies (Finland, 2023). This extraction efficiency has been demonstrated for oilseed rape and sugar beet matrices in the new metabolism studies performed on these crops.…”

“…The LOQ of the analytical method was 0.01 mg/kg for all matrices. The hydrolysis of the samples performed with basic methanol solvent (methanol:10N sodium hydroxide; 100:1) prior to analysis is expected to extract all clopyralid residues potentially bound to the matrix (conjugates or other), which were characterised in a series of less polar compounds in the metabolism studies (Finland, 2023). All relevant residues considered in the residue definition are expected to be released as clopyralid during the sample preparation and therefore have been taken into account in the analysis.…”

“…Two new storage stability studies of clopyralid in strawberries and in dry beans were submitted in the present MRL dossier (Finland, 2023). However, these studies were not further assessed as they are not relevant for the setting of an MRL in honey (see also Section 3.1.2).…”

“…The critical authorised EU GAP in winter oilseed rape (foliar application 1 × 125 g a.s./ha; BBCH 30-51), identified by the EMS to derive MRL in honey and tested in the residue trials, was reported in the GAP table in the MRL application and the evaluation report(Finland, 2023).…”