Pesticides in the European Union

REACH

REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemical substances) is a European Community regulation to improve the protection of human health and the environment. It also calls for the substitution of the more dangerous chemicals with safer alternatives. It entered into force as law on 1 June 2007.

Pesticide residue

In September 2008, the European Union issued new and revised Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for the roughly 1,100 pesticides ever used in the world. The revision was intended to simplify the previous system, under which certain pesticide residues were regulated by the Commission, others were regulated by Member States, and others were not regulated at all.