Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for pyraclostrobin in various crops

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, BASF Agro SAS submitted an application to the competent national authority in France to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance pyraclostrobin in celeriacs, spinaches, chards/beet leaves, witloofs, beans and peas with pods, peas without pods, celeries, fennels and leeks. On the basis of the French evaluation report, EFSA concluded that the data are sufficient to derive MRL proposals for all the crops under consideration. Adequate analytical enforcement methods are available to control the residues of pyraclostrobin in the commodities under consideration. EFSA performed a risk assessment in which potential acute consumer health risks for the intended use on celeries and fennels in Northern EU were identified. The intended uses of pyraclostrobin on the crops under consideration, including the Southern EU uses in celeries and fennels, will not result in a consumer exposure exceeding the toxicological reference values and therefore are unlikely to pose a public health risk. For leeks, a refined acute risk assessment was proposed by the French authority, using a processing factor. Since the available data do not provide sufficient evidence that the short-term exposure is below the acute reference dose, EFSA does not propose to raise the existing MRL.