Freshplaza reports that the European Commission proposes to increase the maximum residue limit for clothianidin in the import of potatoes to the EU from 0.03 milligram to 0.3 milligram per kilo. This proposal was made because clothianidin is allowed in the production of potatoes in Canada.
The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport has agreed to this proposal on behalf of the Netherlands. This has raised questions for member of the Lower House Lodders of the VVD, because the acceptance of the neonicotinoid clothianidin was withdrawn in the EU due to the harm it does to bees.
The curtailment of the use of clothianidin in the EU has not been implemented because of a risk to public health, but because of the risks for bees, Schouten says. The European residue legislation does not include the potential harm to the environment in third countries in the residue assessment; this is the responsibility of the country that uses the substance.
Read the full report on FreshPlaza here
Note: Clothianidin is an insecticide developed by Takeda Chemical Industries and Bayer AG. Similar to thiamethoxam and imidacloprid, it is a neonicotinoid. See Wikipedia
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