South Africa's CGA and CRI Update Citrus Residue Guidelines, New EU Regulations Effective August 19

en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA) and Citrus Research International released a revised edition of the plant protection product restriction guidelines this month, advising growers to follow updated pre-harvest intervals and residue limit regulations to ensure fruit complies with residue limits in destination export markets.

These guidelines serve as compliance provisions in addition to South Africa's domestic product registration and labeling requirements. The two organizations noted that following pesticide label instructions alone is, in many cases, insufficient to meet the maximum residue limits (MRLs) of importing countries. The guidelines cover pre-harvest intervals and restrictions for citrus destined for markets including the EU, the United States, Canada, Japan, China, and South Korea. The pre-harvest interval refers to the minimum waiting period between application and crop harvest.

The latest edition incorporates multiple EU regulatory developments. The EU's stricter residue limits for ethephon took effect on August 19; the limit for benomyl, carbendazim, and thiophanate-methyl has been set at 0.01 mg per kilogram and will apply to all citrus varieties from January 29 next year, although these three substances are currently no longer registered for use on citrus in South Africa. Additionally, the EU's proposed residue limits for fenpropathrin and cyhexatin have not yet been approved; if approved, they are expected to take effect by September 2027.

Adjustments for other target markets include: for citrus exported to China, the pre-harvest interval for acequinocyl has been adjusted to 14 days; new restrictions on cyantraniliprole have been added for the Taiwan market; cypermethrin is no longer permitted for citrus exported to Ukraine, and new restrictions on dodine and malathion have been added for that market. The U.S. residue limit for clothianidin expires on December 31.

Growers are advised to maintain accurate spray records for at least three years to enable traceability in the event of residue exceedances being detected. Lemons require special handling: due to their multi-set fruiting characteristics, pesticides applied to later-stage fruit may leave unacceptable residue levels on earlier fruit remaining on the tree.

The CGA and Citrus Research International remind growers that compliance with the above recommendations does not absolutely guarantee that export residue limits will not be exceeded, and growers must also balance product efficacy, resistance management, and compatibility with integrated pest management practices.