Residue Tolerances for Malathion Sharply Reduced

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie and Lee;

I see DTN reports this today.... from NAWG.

Why is our wheat and barley industry still saying it is OK to use in Canada?

What have we missed?

"Codex Alimentarius has adopted tolerances for malathion residues on wheat and wheat flour of 0.5 ppm and 0.2 ppm, down from the previous tolerances of 8.0 ppm and 2.0 ppm.

"The reduced tolerances reflect the end of acceptance of the use of malathion as a post-harvest stored grain protectant on wheat," said NAWG. "While EPA withdrew the registration of malathion for this use several years ago, EPA permitted any remaining stocks to be used, and surveys of wheat samples for pesticide residues continue to show presence of malathion.

"With the adoption of the reduced tolerances by Codex, growers and handlers now need to avoid any further use of malathion on wheat even if they still have stocks of the chemical, as many wheat importing countries either enforce Codex tolerances or use them as the basis for developing their own," NAWG advises.

[melvill]

Thanks for the heads-up Tom. Probably most of us heard of the warnings this summer about using malathion in canola bins. I remember wondering about other crops.

As for the answer to your question about malation in wheat and barley - I haven't got a clue. I talked to one of my colleagues here, who also farms, and he says he's been advising people for quite a while not to use malathion to treat for insects on any grain.

My guess is the Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency would have control. If you're waiting for your crop to dry you could check at:

http://www.pmra-arla.gc.ca/english/index-e.html

Anyone else know?

[wd9]

T4, I heard on the radio just the other day someone from AgCan saying it was OK to use malathion in the bin with wheat. Made me quite upset.

Frustrating because the malathion is lipophyllic (loves to combine with other oils) and can contaminate canola a year or so later.

http://www.canola-council.org/protect_canola_industry.html

The worst part is there is really no national wheat or barley industry in Canada to do the speaking which is why you won't hear not to use it.

If a country doesn't have a Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) listing of the pesticide, then the limit is zero for that chemical and can reject a cargo. Every country is different, at least the US lists it.

Stop using malathion is the key.

[WRAPper]

Something to talk about at Wheat and Barley Western Standards sub commitees perhaps? I know someone who can bring it up. Also an interesting report on CTV last week on mycotoxins that'll be next.

[WRAPper]

Tom do you still have the article or a reference number from codex alimentarius so I could read the material please. The web site I looked at had no 06 updates only 05's.

[WRAPper]

Pretty bad when my last thought before falling asleep was I a better read the grain grading guide and see what it says about this, It refers more to the colouration of grain treated with seed treatment and as far as the malathion it almost has to be something they can smell though if they suspect the grain is contaminated they can hold the grade for testing.
The standards are 0% in 1cwrs, 5k in 2, 10k in 3and 4, and 2% in feed wheat for contamination.

Perhaps WD9 is correct an information campaign in all grains not to use malathion anymore in bins is maybe the best approach.

[TOM4CWB]

US Wheat Associates Weekly Sept 29/06 newsletter:

"4. Grandfathered malathion use must stop to comply with new tolerances

Codex Alimentarius, the international standards-setting body for pesticide residues, has adopted new, sharply reduced tolerances for malathion residues on wheat and wheat flour of 0.5 ppm and 0.2 ppm, down from the previous tolerances of 8.0 ppm and 2.0 ppm.

The reduced tolerances reflect the end of the line for the use of malathion as a post-harvest stored grain protectant on wheat. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) withdrew the registration of malathion for this use several years ago, EPA permitted any remaining stocks to be used, and surveys of wheat samples for pesticide residues continue to show presence of malathion. Many wheat importing countries will either enforce the new Codex tolerances or use them as the basis for developing their own. That’s why growers and handlers should stop using malathion on wheat now, even if they still have stocks of the chemical."
http://www.uswheat.org/wheatLetter/doc/5B5506B2D91B027F852571F7006306B6?OpenDocument#

I have a call in, hope they will get back to me.

[TOM4CWB]

WRAPper;

The US Wheat researcher told me Codex Alimentarius had a meeting in April, and to the surprise of many passed the regulation lowering residue levels effective in July 2006.

He said many countries have not been aware of the changes, but S. Korea could be the first to adopt as they don't like Malathion... and normally adopt Codex quickly.

He said it was at CodexAlimentarius.net
Go to meetings and Events;
Then to Reports;
Then to Pesticides
Session 38 April Meeting

[TOM4CWB]

WRAPper;

Page 64:

132 Methiocarb
VS 0620 Artichoke, Globe 0.05 (*) 5/8
GC 0640 Barley 0.05 (*) 5/8
AS 0640 Barley straw and fodder, Dry 0.05 5/8
VB 0402 Brussels sprouts 0.05 (*) 5/8
VB 0041 Cabbages, Head 0.1 5/8
VB 0404 Cauliflower 0.1 5/8
TN 0666 Hazelnuts 0.05 (*) 5/8
VA 0384 Leek 0.5 5/8
VL 0482 Lettuce, Head 0.05 (*) 5/8
GC 0645 Maize 0.05 (*) 5/8
VC 0046 Melons, except watermelon 0.2 5/8
VA 0385 Onion, Bulb 0.5 5/8

Page 65: (Acrobat file page)

ALINORM 06/29/26 page 53 of document

Commodity MRL(mg/kg) Step Note
AL 0072 Pea hay or pea fodder (dry) 0.5 5/8
VD 0072 Peas (dry) 0.1 5/8
VP 0063 Peas (pods and succulent=immature 0.1 5/8
seeds)
VO 0445 Peppers, Sweet 2 5/8
VR 0589 Potato 0.05 (*) 5/8
SO 0495 **** seed 0.05 (*) 5/8
VR 0596 Sugar beet 0.05 (*) 5/8
SO 0702 Sunflower seed 0.05 (*) 5/8
GC 0654 Wheat 0.05 (*) 5/8
AS 0654 Wheat straw and fodder, Dry 0.05 5/8

Interesting that the same page has tolerances for 158 Glyphosate


AL 1020 Alfalfa fodder 500 5/8
FI 0327 Banana 0.05 (*) 5/8
AS 0640 Barley straw and fodder, Dry 400 5/8
AL 0061 Bean fodder 200 5/8
VD 0071 Beans (dry) 2 5/8
GC 0080 Cereal grains 30 5/8
SO 0691 Cotton seed 40 5/8
MO 0105 Edible offal (mammalian) 5 5/8 Except pigs
PE 0112 Eggs 0.05 (*) 5/8
AS 0162 Hay or fodder (dry) of grasses 500 5/8
GC 0645 Maize 5 5/8
AS 0645 Maize fodder (dry) 150 5/8
MM 0095 Meat (from mammals other than 0.05 (*) 5/8
marine mammals)
ML 0106 Milks 0.05 (*) 5/8
AS 0647 Oat straw and fodder, Dry 100 5/8
AL 0072 Pea hay or pea fodder (dry) 500 5/8
VD 0072 Peas (dry) 5 5/8
MO 0818 Pig, Edible offal of 0.5 5/8
PM 0110 Poultry meat 0.05 (*) 5/8
PO 0111 Poultry, Edible offal of 0.5 5/8
SO 0495 **** seed 20 5/8
AS 0651 Sorghum straw and fodder, Dry 50 5/8
VD 0541 Soya bean (dry) 20 5/8
GS 0659 Sugar cane 2 5/8
DM 0659 Sugar cane molasses 10 5/8
SO 0702 Sunflower seed 7 5/8
CM 0654 Wheat bran, Unprocessed 20 5/8

Now what does this mean?
Peas 5,
****seed 20,
Cereal Grains 30,
Dry Beans 2.

Wow... what a difference between grains!

[TOM4CWB]

WRAPper;

Here is the right page (57 in the Acrobat file)!

ALINORM 06/29/26 page 45
APPENDIX II
DRAFT MAXIMUM RESIDUE LIMITS FOR PESTICIDES
(Submitted for adoption at Step 8)

49 Malathion
FP 0226 Apple 0.5 8
FC 0001 Citrus fruits 7 8
SO 0691 Cotton seed 20 8
OC 0691 Cotton seed oil, Crude 13 8
OR 0691 Cotton seed oil, Edible 13 8
FB 0269 G****s 5 8
GC 0645 Maize 0.05 8
GC 0651 Sorghum 3 8
GC 0654 Wheat 0.5 8
CF 1211 Wheat flour 0.2 8

[WRAPper]

Thanks Tom for the info.
Barley has the same.05 tolerance as wheat so it will de discussed at the barley Sub commitee next week.(as a way to work it to the main commitee)
Really though because practically all grains are graded at point of sale on visual the ability to discern malathion levels to this point is not available in the country. But what likely needs to be done is an information campaign aimed at the elimination of malathion in storage facilities. I will admit here that I have malathion around here for spraying the evergreens with and it did get used in the grain bins four or five years ago before I was brought up to spped on its residual characteristics, we've swtiched to diacamatecous earth for everything like that around the bins.

[wd9]

Wrapper, Health Canada and the PMRA deal with chemical inclusion as a food safety issue. They set the MRL's.

[WRAPper]

I figured youd be telling me that sooner than later , but it still good to discuss it with the industry so they are aware of it.

[WRAPper]

One other thought Health Canada sets the limits but who tests?

[wd9]

The only one that matters is the customer, who are testing more and more. CGC can test in the GRL for around 2600 different molecules with the HPLC.