HEPTACHLOR JMPR 1974
Explanation
Heptachlor was considered at the Joint Meetings in 1965, 1966,
1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970 (FAO/WHO, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1971).
During the 1974 Meeting of the Codex Committee on Pesticide
Residues some delegations expressed the opinion that the practical
residue limit (PRL) of 0.2 mg/kg for heptachlor in carrots established
by the JMPR in 1970 was too high and could be reduced to 0.1, as
originally proposed by the 1968 JMPR, or lower. Governments were
requested to supply data for the Joint Meeting in support of a
re-evaluation.
APPRAISAL
No further data have been received by the Joint Meeting on
heptachlor residues in carrots. It is noted that the present PRL is
intended to limit residues unintentionally taken up from soils in
which carrots may be grown in the course of crop rotation, i.e. the
term good agricultural practice does not apply to the use of
heptachlor on carrots per se. According to data provided earlier,
direct application of heptachlor to carrots or the growing of carrots
in previously treated soils would result in residues significantly in
excess of the existing PRL.
The Meeting concluded that the present PRL of 0.2 mg/kg is
sufficiently low to discourage carrot growing in soils previously
treated with heptachlor for a number of years (up to 10) following the
last direct application of heptachlor. This level will serve as a
guideline for countries or localities where heptachlor may still be in
use, and it is the opinion of the Meeting that a further reduction of
the PRL may provide no further protection of significance. The Meeting
agreed to reaffirm the level as a realistic value until further data
are made available.
REFERENCES
FAO/WHO. (1965) Evaluation of the toxicity of pesticide residues in
food. FAO Meeting Report, No. PL/1965/10/1; WHO/Food Add./27.65.
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.
FAO/WHO. (1969) 1968 Evaluations of some pesticide residues in food.
FAO/PL/1968/M/9/1; WHO/Food Add./69.35.
FAO/WHO. (1970) 1969 Evaluations of some pesticide residues in food.
FAO/PL/1969/M/17/1; WHO/Food Add./70.38.
FAO/WHO. (1971) 1970 Evaluations of some pesticide residues in food.
FAO/AGP/1970/M/12/1; WHO/Food Add./71.42.