FORMOTHION                                 JMPR 1972

    Explanation

    This pesticide was evaluated at the 1969 Joint Meeting (FAO/WHO,
    1970).

    At the Sixth Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues,
    clarification was sought as to whether the tolerances recommended for
    residues on strawberries and blackcurrants applied to the parent
    formothion or to its metabolite, dimethoate. It is clear from the
    information contained in the monograph that, apart from some minor
    instances concerning the peel of citrus fruit, residues of formothion
    itself are not detectable when a crop is examined at harvest after the
    normal, recommended interval since application. At harvest the residue
    from application of formothion comprises dimethoate together with
    minor amounts of omethoate (dimethoxon).

    The temporary tolerances on strawberries (0.3 ppm) and blackcurrants
    (2 ppm) therefore apply to residues of dimethoate and omethoate
    (expressed as dimethoate) arising from the use of formothion. It
    should be noted that, effectively, the tolerances for residues of
    dimethoate in tree fruit including citrus (2 ppm), tomatoes and
    peppers (1 ppm) and other vegetables (2 ppm), also apply to residues
    resulting from the usage of formothion on these crops.

    No ADI has been established for the parent formothion because it was
    recognized in 1969 that ..."...... if the residue at harvest is
    dimethoate and its oxon, the information on dimethoate already on
    record (FAO/WHO, 1968) should suffice."

    APPRAISAL

    RECOMMENDATIONS

    TEMPORARY TOLERANCES

                                       ppm

         Strawberries                  0.3

         Blackcurrants                 2

    Remarks

    Temporary tolerances apply to residues resulting from the use of
    formothion, determined as dimethoate and omethoate and expressed as
    dimethoate.

    FURTHER WORK OR INFORMATION

         None

    REFERENCES

    FAO/WHO (1970) 1969 evaluations of some pesticide residues in food.
    FAO/PL/1969/M/17/1; WHO/Food Add./70.38.
    

    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Formothion (FAO/PL:1969/M/17/1)
       Formothion (WHO Pesticide Residues Series 3)