The pesticides used in plant protection products (PPP) are substances that are required to control plant diseases, pests, and weeds that cause significant damage and yield loss in crops in the field and during storage. After the application of plant protection products, the active ingredients, metabolites, and degradation products found in these substances can remain on the plants, on the harvested product, or in the soil and water, and these residues can be detected through analysis. These residues are referred to as “Pesticide Residues.”

The application dose, frequency, and number of applications of the plant protection products affect the level of pesticide residues on agricultural products. Therefore, it is crucial that these applications are performed properly, ideally by certified experts. This ensures both the expected efficacy of the product and that pesticide residues on the product remain at a minimum level, ensuring safe food production. The maximum pesticide residue levels allowed by law are determined and published in the official gazette. These maximum residue levels (MRL) are the amounts of pesticide residues legally permitted in food.

How is the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) determined?

The process of determining the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for pesticides in food follows a very safe approach.

First, the “no observed effect level” (NOEL) is determined for a pesticide active ingredient, which is the dose at which no adverse effects are observed in test animals. This value is measured in mg/kg. Next, taking into account vulnerable groups in the population, such as children or unborn babies, and based on available data, the “acceptable daily intake” (ADI) is calculated for an individual. This is the maximum amount of a substance that can be ingested daily over a lifetime without posing any noticeable health risk. To calculate the ADI, the NOEL value is divided by a safety factor (usually 100). Afterward, based on good agricultural practices and the ADI values, the MRL for that pesticide is determined and published in the official gazette. Turkey also has its own MRL list.