PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FOOD - 1984
Sponsored jointly by FAO and WHO
EVALUATIONS 1984
The monographs
Data and recommendations of the joint meeting
of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues
in Food and the Environment and the
WHO Expert Group on Pesticide Residues
Rome, 24 September - 3 October 1984
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome 1985
DIFLUBENZURON
Explanation
Diflubenzuron was evaluated by the Joint Meeting on Pesticide
Residues in 1981 and 1983. 1/ At the 1981 JMPR, a temporary ADI was
allocated and TMRLs were proposed for various crops. The 1983 JMPR
reviewed the data on some crops presented in the 1981 Evaluations. The
meeting noted that supporting data on cabbage, Brussels sprouts and
plums had been accidentally omitted in the 1981 Evaluations. On
reviewing the data on residues from supervised trials in plums, the
meeting concluded that they would not support the maximum residue
levels for plums estimated in 1981 and recommended that the MRL for
plums be withdrawn until further data become available.
The 1984 JMPR received extensive information on the authorization
and registration status for diflubenzuron in many countries, together
with information on current good agricultural practice. The
information on national MRLs was updated.
Residue data were provided on residues from supervised trials on
plums, black currants and tomatoes and data on good agricultural
practices for diflubenzuron on these crops.
RESIDUES IN FOOD AND THEIR EVALUATION
USE PATTERN
Uses of diflubenzuron on crops included in the supervised trials
reported to the 1984 JMPR are summarized in Table 1 (Greece, 1984;
Romania, 1984; Switzerland, 1984; United Kingdom, 1984).
RESIDUES RESULTING FROM SUPERVISED TRIALS
Additional residue data on plums and residue data on black
currants and tomatoes were reported to the meeting. The results of
these trials are summarized in Tables 2 (plums and black currants) and
3 (tomatoes) (Netherlands, 1984; United Kingdom, 1984).
TABLE 1. Diflubenzuron Use on Plums and Tomatoes
Crop Country Dosage rate Main pests Pre-harvest
interval (days)
Plum United 0.15 kg a.i./ha Winter moth, 14
Kingdom fruit tree tortrix
plum fruit moth
Greece 20-37.5 g a.i./100 1 Caterpillars
Romania 15 g a.i./100 1 Plum fruit moth
Grapholitha molesta
G. funebrana
Switzerland 10 g a.i./100 1 Noctuidae spp.
Erannis defoliaria 42
Tomato Greece 10-25 g a.i./100 1 Caterpillars
Colorado beetle
1 See Annex 2 for FAO and WHO documentation.
TABLE 2. Diflubenzuron Residues in Fruit from Supervised Trials
Application 1
Residues (mg/kg)
Crop Country/ No. Rate at intervals (days) after application
Year kg a.i./ha
(g a.i./100 1) 7/8 13/14 19/21 27/28 56
Plums Netherlands 1 (20 g/100 1) 0.02
1977 1 (40 g/100 1) 0.06
United 1 1 <0.05
Kingdom 1 1 <0.05
1 1 <0.05
1 1 <0.05
1979 1 0.15 0.99 0.48 0.49 0.45
1 0.15 0.17 0.04
Black United 1 0.15 0.24 0.32 0.25 0.16
currants Kingdom 1 0.15 0.64 0.96 0.30 0.74
1979 1 0.25 0.03 0.04 0.02
1 A 25 percent W.P. formulation was used.
TABLE 3. Diflubenzuron Residues in Tomatoes from Supervised Trials
Application 1
Residues (mg/kg) at intervals
Crop Country/ No. Rate (days) after application
Year kg a.i./ha
(g a.i./100 1) 1 3 5/6 7
United 1 (12.5 g/100 1) 0.39 0.23 0.13 0.07
Kingdom 1 (15 g/100 1) 1.22 0.99 0.85 0.81
1978 1 0.25 0.74 0.46 0.63 0.68
1 A 25 percent W.P. formulation was used.
NATIONAL MAXIMUM RESIDUE LIMITS REPORTED TO THE MEETING
The following national MRLs, which were not reported in earlier
evaluations or have since been amended, were brought to the attention
of the 1984 JMPR. The MRLs refer to deflubenzuron parent compound.
Country Crop Residue (mg/kg)
Canada pasture grass negligible
Italy apples 0.5
pears 0.5
The 1 pome fruit 1
Netherlands cabbage 1
(March 1984) mushrooms 0.1
eggs 0.05
milk 0.05
meat 0.05
poultry meat 0.05
other food commodities 0 (0.05)
South Africa apples 1
pears 1
pome fruit 1
mushrooms 0.5
United States cotton seed 0.2
eggs 0.05
milk 0.05
fat, meat, meat by-products
of cattle, goats, hogs,
horses, poultry, sheep 0.05
1 Date MRL came into force.
APPRAISAL
The meeting reviewed residue data from supervised trials on
plums, available to the 1981 JMPR, together with data not evaluated at
earlier meetings. Residue data from supervised trials on black
currants and tomatoes not evaluated at earlier meetings were also
reviewed. The data provided a basis for estimating new maximum residue
levels, which could be recommended as temporary maximum residue
limits.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The following temporary MRLs are recommended, to apply to
diflubenzuron only. In view of the limited residue data, the limits
are temporary, irrespective of the status of the ADI, until adequate
data are provided, preferably from more than one region.
Commodity TMRL Pre-harvest interval on which
(mg/kg) the recommended limits are based
(days)
Plums 1 14
Black currants 1 14
Tomatoes 1 3-7
FURTHER WORK OR INFORMATION
Required (by 1986)
Additional residue data from supervised trials on plums, black
currants and tomatoes.
REFERENCES
Greece. Information on diflubenzuron submitted by Greece to FAO.
1984
Netherlands. Information on diflubenzuron submitted by The Netherlands
1984 to FAO.
Romania. Information on diflubenzuron submitted by Romania to FAO.
1984
Switzerland. Information on diflubenzuron submitted by Switzerland to
1984 FAO.
United Kingdom. Information on diflubenzuron submitted by the United
1984 Kingdom to FAO.
See Also:
Toxicological Abbreviations
Diflubenzuron (EHC 184, 1996)
Diflubenzuron (HSG 99, 1995)
Diflubenzuron (Pesticide residues in food: 1981 evaluations)
Diflubenzuron (Pesticide residues in food: 1983 evaluations)
Diflubenzuron (Pesticide residues in food: 1985 evaluations Part II Toxicology)
Diflubenzuron (JMPR Evaluations 2001 Part II Toxicological)