FAO/PL:1968/M/9/1
WHO/FOOD ADD./69.35
1968 EVALUATIONS OF SOME PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FOOD
THE MONOGRAPHS
Issued jointly by FAO and WHO
The content of this document is the result of the deliberations of the
Joint Meeting of the FAO Working Party of Experts and the WHO Expert
Committee on Pesticide Residues, which met in Geneva, 9-16 December,
1968.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Geneva, 1969
MALATHION
Since the previous evaluation (FAO/WHO, 1968) additional data have
become available and are summarized and discussed in the following
monograph addendum.
RESIDUES IN FOOD AND THEIR EVALUATION
Background
At the Third Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues the
delegation of the Netherlands pointed out that in consequence of the
previously recommended tolerance of 8 ppm in raw grain there is a need
for a tolerance level for cereal products which are derived from raw
grain with residues up to 8 ppm.
Residues resulting from supervised trials
Allessandrini and other authors (FAO/WHO, 1967) have shown that an
initial residue of about 8 ppm in raw grain decreases to a maximum of
3 ppm after a reasonable storage period. After milling, a residue of
1.2 up to about 2 ppm was found in whole meal. Bressau (1966) found
1-1.9 ppm malathion in whole meal and flour of rye, whereas
immediately before milling a residue of 3-3.5 ppm occurred in the
stored raw material.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TOLERANCES AND PRACTICAL RESIDUE LIMITS
Appraisal
Since residues of up to 8 ppm on raw grain decrease to 2 ppm and less
during storage and milling, a tolerance of 2 ppm malathion in whole
meal and flour from rye and wheat appears justified.
Recommendations
In addition to the previously recommended tolerances*.
Fruit (excluding citrus fruit),
dried fruit, nuts and raw
cereals 8.0 ppm
Citrus fruit 4.0 ppm
Leafy vegetables 6.0 ppm
Other vegetables 3.0 ppm
The meeting recommends the following tolerance:
Whole meal and flour from
rye and wheat 2.0 ppm
The above tolerances apply to malathion plus malaoxon.
In the case of fruits and vegetables the tolerances should be applied
as soon as practicable after harvest and in any event prior to actual
retail to the public. In the case of commodities entering
international trade, the tolerances should be applied by the importing
country at the point of entry or as soon as practicable thereafter.
REFERENCES
Bressau, G. (1966) Residues of storage protection agents - especially
malathion - in grain. Deutsche Lebensmittel Rundschau, 62: 390-395
FAO/WHO (1967) Evaluation of some pesticide residues in food (FAO,
PL: CP/15; WHO/Food Add./67.32
FAO/WHO (1968) 1967 Evaluations of some pesticide residues in food
(FAO, PL: 1967/M/11/1; WHO/Food Add./68.30)