Reasoned opinion on the modification of the existing MRLs for metrafenone in various crops

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, France, hereafter referred to as the evaluating Member State (EMS), received an application from BASF SE to modify the existing MRLs for the active substance metrafenone in various crops. In order to accommodate for the intended uses of metrafenone in France, the EMS proposed to raise the existing MRLs from the limit of quantification of 0.05 mg/kg to 0.6 mg/kg in strawberries, 0.3 mg/kg in tomatoes and aubergines, 2 mg/kg in peppers, 0.1 mg/kg in cucurbits (edible and inedible peel) and 0.4 mg/kg in cultivated fungi. France drafted an evaluation report in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, which was submitted to the European Commission and forwarded to EFSA. According to EFSA the data are sufficient to derive the following MRL proposals: 0.6 mg/kg in strawberries, 0.4 mg/kg in tomatoes and cultivated fungi, 2 mg/kg in peppers, 0.15 mg/kg in cucurbits with edible peel and 0.1 mg/kg in cucurbits with inedible peel. The intended use on aubergines is not supported by GAP compliant residue trials. EFSA derived a MRL proposal of 0.3 mg/kg from the overdosed trials on tomatoes by applying the proportionality approach. Risk managers should decide whether this tentative MRL proposal is acceptable since the use of the down-scaling of overdosed trials is not common practice in the EU. Adequate analytical enforcement methods are available to control the residues of metrafenone in the commodities under consideration. Based on the risk assessment results, EFSA concludes that the proposed uses of metrafenone on strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucurbits and cultivated fungi will not result in a consumer exposure exceeding the toxicological reference value and therefore is unlikely to pose a consumer health risk.