ALDRIN/DIELDRIN JMPR 1975
Explanation
The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues at its eighth session
(1975) reiterated its request to governments to provide information on
the use of these compounds on fruit crops. It also requested
clarification as to whether the limit (0.1 mg/kg) had been based on
residues following soil treatment or following application to foliage
and whether aldrin and dieldrin were being used for the latter purpose
(ALINORM 76/24, para. 30).
No information was received from governments but the principal
manufacturer provided details of the uses still recommended on
commercial labels.
USE PATTERN
The data used by the Joint Meeting in developing recommendations
for maximum residue limits even in 1966 were concerned principally
with soil applications with limited uses over the crop at long
intervals prior to harvest. It was recognized that these over-crop
treatments resulted in residues generally below 0.1 ppm. At that stage
most countries which had established residue tolerances had recognized
the need for a 0.1 mg/kg limit in a wide range of fruits, vegetables
and grains.
Over the years the use of aldrin and dieldrin as foliar
treatments has almost disappeared in most countries, but there are a
number of important uses involving soil application or soil
incorporation in fruit culture. These applications do not give rise to
significant systemic uptake but there may be occasional transfer of
soil to crop. The manufacturers advise that current registrations on
fruit crops are all for soil applications and are confined to the
following crops:
grape vines - soil treatment after harvest
bananas - treatment of base of stool
pineapples - pre-planting treatment of soil
strawberries - pre-planting and after harvest
tropical fruit - soil treatment
The use of aldrin and dieldrin for these applications is
registered in the following countries:
aldrin/vines Austria, Germany, India, Chile
aldrin/bananas Brazil, Dominican Republic, Malaysia,
Spain
aldrin/pineapples Kenya, Taiwan, Venezuela, Brazil
aldrin/strawberries Netherlands
aldrin/tropical fruit India
dieldrin/vines South Africa, Zambia
dieldrin/bananas Australia, Dominican Republic, Thailand,
Taiwan, Venezuela
dieldrin/strawberries Canada, Netherlands
There is wide use of both aldrin and dieldrin for termite control
and in some countries of Africa, South America and South-East Asia it
is necessary to treat the soil around fruit trees to form a barrier
against termites attacking roots and trunks of trees. Such treatments
are not likely to give rise to significant residues.
The Meeting understood that food surveys and monitoring have
seldom shown significant residues in any fruit.
More information is required from governments on uses for aldrin
and dieldrin that are currently authorized and on residues found in
different commodities.
Recommendations for maximum residue limits
The Meeting recommends that the maximum residue limit for aldrin
and dieldrin on fruit be reduced from 0.1 mg/kg to 0.05 mg/kg.
FURTHER WORK OR INFORMATION
REQUIRED
1. Information on current use patterns and residue monitoring to
indicate the level and incidence of aldrin/dieldrin residues in food.