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.
    

    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Aldrin/dieldrin (WHO Pesticide Residues Series 4)
       Aldrin/dieldrin (Pesticide residues in food: 1977 evaluations)