Residues of Pesticides, Animal Feed Additives and Veterinary Drugs in Foods

The MHLW sets residue standards for all pesticides, animal feed additives and veterinary drugs"( agricultural chemicals" hereinafter)in foods and bans the sales and processing of food commodities that contain residues at a level exceeding the standards.

Introduction of the Positive List System for Agricultural Chemical Residues in Foods

I. Introduction of the positive list system

On May 29, 2006 the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) introduced the positive list system for agricultural chemicals remaining in foods-the system to prohibit the distribution of foods that contain agricultural chemicals above a certain level if maximum residue limits (MRLs) have not been established. The agricultural chemicals include pesticides, feed additives and veterinary drugs. This activity has been based on the Act to Partially Revise the Food Sanitation Act (Act No. 55, 2003). The Act No. 55 has required the MHLW to take the following measures within three years after the publication of the revised Food Sanitation Act (May 30, 2003).

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Analytical Methods

MHW Notification No. 370 (Specifications and Standards for Foods, Food Additives, etc.), 1959" and briefing paper of MHLW

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Samples
2,4,5-T
Aldrin, Endrin and Dieldrin
Brotizolam
Captafol
Chloramphenicol
Chlorpromazine
Clenbuterol
Clorsulon
Coumaphos
Daminozide
Dexamethasone and Betamethasone
Diethylstilbestrol
Ethylene dibromide
Gentian violet
Ipronidazole, Dimetridazole, Metronidazole and Ronidazole
Malachite Green
Melengestrol Acetate
Nitarsone and Roxarsone
Nitrofurantoin, Furazolidone and Furaltadone
Nitrofurazone
Olaquindox and Carbadox
Parathion
Propham
Sodium Nifurstyrenate
Trenbolone Acetate

Syoku-An No.0124001, January 24, 2005 (Analytical Methods fo Residual Compositional Substances of Agricultural Chemicals, Feed Additives,and Veterinary Drugs in Food)

Chapter I General Rules

Chapter II Multiresidue Method

Chapter III Group and Single Method

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2,4-D, 2,4-DB and Cloprop (Agricultural Products)
2,4-D, 2,4-DB and Cloprop (Animal and Fishery Products)
2,2-DPA(Agricultural Products)
Abamectin(Agricultural Products)
Abamectin(Animal Products)
Acetamiprid(Agricultural Products)
Acetamiprid(Animal and Fishery Products)
Acequinocyl(Animal and Fishery Products)
Acetochlor (Agricultural Products)
Acrinathrin, Cyhalothrin, Cyfluthrin, Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin and Tralomethrin, Bifenthrin, Pyrethrins, Fenvalerate, Flucythrinate, Fluvalinate and Permethrin (Agricultural Products)
Alachlor, Isoprocarb, Kresoxim-methyl, Diethofencarb, Thenylchlor, Tebufenpyrad, Paclobutrazol, Bitertanol, Pyriproxyfen, Pyriminobac-methyl, Fenarimol, Butachlor, Flutolanil, Pretilachlor, Metolachlor, Mefenacet, Mepronil and Lenacil(Agricultural Products)
Alachlor(Animal Products)
Aldicarb and Aldoxycarb, Ethiofencarb, Oxamyl, Carbaryl, Pirimicarb, Fenobucarb and Bendiocarb(Agricultural Products)
Amisulbrom(Agricultural Products)
Amitraz(Animal Products)
Amitrol(Agricultural Products)
Asulam(Animal Products)
Azocyclotin and Cyhexatin(Agricultural Products)
Azocyclotin and Cyhexatin(Animal and Fishery Products)
Benthiavalicarb-isopropyl(Agricultural Products)
Benzyladenine (Agricultural Products)
BHC, γBHC, DDT, Aldrin and Dieldrin, Ethalfluralin, Etridiazole, Endrin, Quintozene, Chlordane, Dicofol, Tecnazene, Tetradifon, Tefluthrin, Trifluralin, Halfenprox, Fenpropathrin, Hexachlorobenzene, Heptachlor, Benfluralin and Methoxychlor (Agricultural Products)
Bicozamycin (Animal and Fishery Products)
Brodifacoum and Warfarin(Animal and Fishery Products)
Cafenstrole, Difenoconazole, Cyproconazole, Simetryn, Thifluzamide, Tetraconazole, Tebuconazole, Triadimenol, Fludioxonil, Propiconazole, Hexaconazole and Penconazole(Agricultural Products)
Cafenstrole(Animal and Fishery Products)
Cefquinome(Animal and Fishery Products)
Chlorantraniliprole(Agricultural Products)
Chlormequat (Animal Products)
Clomeprop(Animal and Fishery Products)
Cycloprothrin (Agricultural Products)
Cycloprothrin (Fishery Products)
Cyenopyrafen(Agricultural Products)
Cyflumetofen(Agricultural Products)
Cyflumetofen (Animal Products)
Demeton-S-methyl and Oxydemeton-methyl (Agricultural Products)
Dimethomorph(Animal and Fishery Products)
Diniconazole(Agricultural Products)
Diniconazole(Animal and Fishery Products)
Dinotefuran(Agricultural Products)
Dinotefuran(Animal Products)
Dithiocarbamates (Agricultural, Animal and Fishery Products)
Emamectin benzoate(Animal and Fishery Products)
Enrofloxacin, Oxolinic Acid, Ofloxacin, Orbifloxacin, Sarafloxacin, Difloxacin, Danofloxacin, Nalidixic Acid, Norfloxacin and Flumequine(Animal and Fishery Products)
Enrofloxacin, Oxolinic Acid, Ofloxacin, Orbifloxacin, Sarafloxacin, Difloxacin, Danofloxacin, Nalidixic Acid, Norfloxacin, Flumequine and Marbofloxacin(Honey)
EPN, Anilofos, Isazophos, Iprobenfos, Ethion, Edifenphos, Ethoprophos, Etrimfos, Cadusafos, Quinalphos, Chlorpyrifos, Chlorpyrifos-methyl, Chlorfenvinphos, Cyanophos, Disulfoton, Dimethylvinphos, Dimethoate, Sulprofos, Diazinon, Thiometon, Tetrachlorvinphos, Terbufos, Triazophos, Tribuphos, Tolclofos-methyl, Parathion, Parathion-methyl, Piperophos, Pyraclofos, Pyrazophos, Pyridaphenthion, Pirimiphos-methyl, Fenamiphos, Fenitrothion, Fensulfothion, Fenthion, Phenthoate, Butamifos, Prothiofos, Propaphos, Profenofos, Bromophos, Bensulide, Phoxim, Phosalone, Fosthiazate, Phosphamidon, Phosmet, Phorate, Malathion, Mecarbam, Methacrifos, Methidathion and Mevinphos(Agricultural Products)
Ethofumesate (Agricultural Products)
Ethoxyquin(Animal and Fishery Products)
Fenhexamid(Animal and Fishery Products)
Fipronil(Animal Products)
Flavophospholipol (Animal Products)
Flubendazole (Animal Products)
Flucetosulfuron(Agricultural Products)
Fluensulfone(Agricultural Products)
Fluopicolide(Agricultural Products)
Flusilazole(Animal and Fishery Products)
Gamithromycin (Animal Products)
Glycyrrhizic Acid(Animal and Fishery Products)
Halosulfuron Methyl(Animal and Fishery Products)
Imicyafos(Agricultural Products)
Iminoctadine(Agricultural Products)
Iodosulfuron methyl, Ethametsulfuron-methyl, Ethoxysulfuron, Cinosulfuron, Sulfosulfuron, Triasulfuron, Nicosulfuron, Pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, Primisulfuron-methyl, Prosulfuron and Rimsulfuron (Agricultural Products)
Ipfencarbazone (Agricultural Products)
Isoxaflutole (Agricultural Products)
Isoxaflutole (Animal Products)
Kresoxim-methyl (Animal and Fishery Products)
Lasalocid (Animal Products)
Mandipropamid(Agricultural Products)
Metaldehyde(Agricultural Products)
1-Methylcyclopropene(Agricultural Products)
Methyl Iodide(Agricultural Products)
Milbemectin and Lepimectin(Agricultural Products)
Mirosamycin(Animal and Fishery Products)

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1-Naphthaleneacetic Acid(Agricultural Products)
Nitenpyram(Agricultural Products)
Oxadiargyl(Agricultural Products)
Oxine-copper(Agricultural Products)
Oxytetracycline(Agricultural Products)
Oxytetracycline, Chlortetracycline and Tetracycline(Animal and Fishery Products)
Penthiopyrad(Agricultural Products)
Prednisolone (Animal Products)
Propyrisulfuron (Agricultural Products)
Propyrisulfuron (Fishery Products)
Prothioconazole (Animal Products)
Pyraclonil(Agricultural Products)
Pyrimisulfan(Agricultural Products)
Pyrifluquinazon(Agricultural Products)
Pyrithiobac sodium(Agricultural Products)
Quinclorac (Agricultural Products)
Quinclorac(Animal Products)
Ractopamine(Animal and Fishery Products)
Rafoxanide(Animal and Fishery Products)
Silafluofen (Animal and Fishery Products)
Spinosad(Animal and Fishery Products)
Spiromesifen(Agricultural Products)
Spiromesifen(Animal and Fishery Products)
Tiadinil(Agricultural Products)
Triflumizole(Agricultural Products)
Tulathromycin(Animal Products)
Tylosin (Animal Products)
Zilpaterol(Animal Products)
Guidelines for the validation of analytical methods for testing agricultural chemicals in food

MHLW Notifications (November 29, 2005)

Revised Specifications and Standards (May 29, 2006~)

The MRLs list includes limits which have been newly established or which have been revised after the enforcement of the positive list system (May 29, 2006). The dates of establishment or revision appear in Column 1 in the MRLs list. The enforcement date depends on chemicals. For details, refer to the corresponding Director Notice in the section "Partial Revision of Specifications and Standards" below.

The MRLs List is partially revised from the existing list to implement the Positive List System on May 29, 2006. Most of the MRLs appearing in the list are already effective. The Provisional MRLs List contains MRLs which have been newly established to implement the system. From the given date, both lists will be applied.

MRLs appearing in the Provisional MRLs List have been provisionally established without passing through the full legal procedure due to time restrictions and to enable the smooth implementation of the new system. Specifically, concerning the setting of these MRLs, the Food Safety Commission in the Cabinet Office has not carried out safety assessment, which is required by the Food Safety Basic Act. After the assessment is completed, Provisional MRLs will be reviewed and revised ones be placed in the MRLs List.

Director Notice concerning Implmentation (November 29, 2005)

Establishment of Applicable Acts and Ordinances in Response to the Implementation of Paragraph 3, Article 11, Which Has Been Newly Added to the Food Sanitation Act, Based on the Act to Partially Amend the Food Sanitation Act (Director Notice Syoku-An No. 1129001, 2005)(Updated on June 23, 2006) [PDF: 189KB]

Guideline for Application for Establishment and Revision of Maximum Residue Limits for Agricultural Chemicals used outside Japan

I. Purpose

This guideline outlines the procedures required to apply for the establishment and revision of maximum residue limits (MRLs) for agricultural chemicals on/in foods, and the scope of required documents. The guideline targets agricultural chemicals - pesticides, veterinary drugs, and feed additives - that are approved in the foreign countries for foods exported to Japan. The foods include agricultural products, animal products, or seafood.

The requirements given in this document notwithstanding, it is not necessarily appropriate to require a uniform set of documents for every chemical. Also, advances in science and technology may bring new analytical and evaluation methods. Therefore, the study results and related documents given in the guideline can be replaced by other documents sufficient to conduct evaluation for establishment and revision of MRLs.

Shokuan No. 0205001, 5 February 2004 (revised by Seishoku No. 1030001, 30 October 2019)

Guideline for Application for Establishment and Revision of Maximum Residue Limits for Agricultural Chemicals used outside Japan [PDF: 371KB][PDF: 372KB]