Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/840 of 15 April 2026 amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for copper compounds in or on certain products

32026R0840RegulationMay 6, 2026

of 15 April 2026

amending Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards maximum residue levels for copper compounds in or on certain products

(Text with EEA relevance)

Preamble

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 February 2005 on maximum residue levels of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin and amending Council Directive 91/414/EEC 1 , and in particular Article 14(1), point (a)thereof,

Whereas:

(1) For copper compounds, maximum residue levels (‘MRLs’) were set in Part A of Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

(2) The group of copper compounds consists of Bordeaux mixture, copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride, copper oxide and tribasic copper sulphate, and is approved in the Union as active substance in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council 2 .

(3) In 2018, the European Food Safety Authority (‘the Authority’) submitted a reasoned opinion on the review of the existing MRLs for copper compounds 3 in accordance with Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

(4) In 2023, the Authority published a scientific opinion on the re-evaluation of the existing Health-Based Guidance Values for copper and exposure assessment from all sources 4 . The Authority established that there are no health risks below the copper retention threshold of an intake of 0,07 mg/kg body weight per day for the adult population and concluded that the current copper exposure presents no health risk for the population, including for children. It also concluded that plant protection products were not a major contributor to exposure to copper for the population.

(5) In 2025, the Authority published a statement updating the review of the existing MRLs for copper compounds 5 in light of its scientific opinion on the re-evaluation of the Health-Based Guidance Values and exposure assessment from all sources. Due to copper being ubiquitous in the environment, the Authority considered data from residue trials supporting uses authorised in the Union as well as monitoring data, in order to derive appropriate MRLs.

(6) The Authority concluded that the current MRLs for copper compounds in or on cashew nuts, coconuts, blackberries, dewberries, raspberries, dates, table olives, kumquats, carambolas, jambuls, cucumbers, gherkins, courgettes, celeries, Florence fennels, rhubarbs, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, cotton seeds, safflower seeds, borage seeds, gold of pleasure seeds, castor beans, olives for oil production, maize/corn, herbal infusions from strawberry leaves, sugar beet roots, bovine muscle, bovine fat, sheep muscle, sheep fat, goat fat, equine muscle, equine fat, poultry muscle, and fat of other farmed terrestrial animals reflect the current levels of copper in those products and pose no risk to consumers. They should therefore be maintained. The MRLs for these products should therefore remain at the existing levels and be included in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

(7) The Authority further concluded that the current MRLs for copper compounds in or on almonds, Brazil nuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts/cobnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nut kernels, pistachios, walnuts, apples, pears, quinces, medlars, loquats/Japanese medlars, cherries, peaches, table grapes, wine grapes, strawberries, blueberries, cranberries, currants, gooseberries, rose hips, mulberries, azaroles/Mediterranean medlars, elderberries, kiwi fruits, potatoes, horseradishes, spring onions/green onions and Welsh onions, tomatoes, sweet peppers/bell peppers, aubergines/eggplants, melons, pumpkins, watermelons, Chinese cabbages/pe-tsai, kales, lamb’s lettuces/corn salads, lettuces, escaroles/broad-leaved endives, cresses and other sprouts and shoots, land cresses, roman rocket/rucola, red mustards, baby leaf crops, spinaches, purslanes, chards/beet leaves, grape leaves, watercresses, herbs and edible flowers, globe artichokes, leeks, buckwheat, sorghum, hops, swine liver, bovine liver, sheep liver, goat muscle, goat liver, liver of other farmed terrestrial animals, honey, and products from wild terrestrial animals should be raised to reflect the current levels of copper in those products. It is appropriate to set the MRLs for these products at the levels identified by the Authority in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, which pose no risk to consumers.

(8) The Authority also concluded that the current MRLs for copper compounds in or on ‘citrus fruits’, apricots, plums, figs, kaki/Japanese persimmons, litchis/lychees, passionfruits/maracujas, prickly pears/cactus fruits, star apples/cainitos, American persimmons/Virginia kaki, avocados, bananas, mangoes, papayas, granate apples/pomegranates, cherimoyas, guavas, pineapples, breadfruits, durians, soursops/guanabanas, cassava roots/manioc, sweet potatoes, yams, arrowroots, beetroots, carrots, celeriacs/turnip rooted celeries, Jerusalem artichokes, parsnips, parsley roots/Hamburg roots parsley, radishes, salsifies, swedes/rutabagas, turnips, garlic, onions, shallots, okra/lady’s fingers, sweet corn, broccoli, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts, head cabbages, kohlrabies, witloofs/Belgian endives, beans (with pods), beans (without pods), peas (with pods), peas (without pods), lentils, asparagus, cardoons, bamboo shoots, palm hearts, cultivated fungi, wild fungi, mosses and lichens, algae and prokaryotes organisms, beans (dry), lentils (dry), peas (dry), lupins/lupini beans, linseeds, peanuts/groundnuts, sunflower seeds, rapeseeds/canola seeds, soyabeans, mustard seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, oil palm kernel, oil palm fruits, kapok, barley, common millet/proso millet, oat, rice, rye, wheat, teas, coffee beans, ‘herbal infusions from flowers’, herbal infusions from rooibos, herbal infusions from mate/maté, ‘herbal infusions from roots’, herbal infusions from any other parts of the plant, cocoa beans, carob’s/Saint John’s breads, ‘spices’, sugar canes, chicory roots, swine muscle, swine fat, swine kidney, swine edible offals, bovine kidney, bovine edible offals, sheep kidney, sheep edible offals, goat kidney, goat edible offals, equine kidney, equine liver, equine edible offals, poultry fat, poultry kidney, poultry edible offals, muscle of other farmed terrestrial animals, kidney of other farmed terrestrial animals, edible offals of other farmed terrestrial animals, ‘milks’, and ‘bird eggs’, while they pose no risk to consumers, should be lowered to reflect the current levels of copper in those products with a view to setting MRLs at levels as low as reasonably achievable. However, several Member States and stakeholders raised concerns that the levels proposed by the Authority were too low and did not reflect adequately the current levels of copper in those products. They requested additional time to submit the relevant monitoring data. Since the Authority concluded that the current copper exposure presents no health risk for the population, these MRLs should be maintained at their current levels and set in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, allowing Member States and stakeholders additional time to submit monitoring data. The MRLs for these products will be reviewed. That review should take into account the information available by 30 June 2028 submitted via the chemical monitoring data collection exercises conducted on a yearly basis by the Authority 6 .

(9) Additionally, since some information on the analytical methods for products of plant origin with high-oil content, dry products of plant origin, tea, coffee beans, cocoa beans, carobs, hops, herbal infusions, ‘spices’, and for products of animal origin, and information on the residue trials for kiwi fruits, cucurbits with inedible peel, watercress and hops was not available, the MRLs set out in this Regulation for these products should be reviewed. That review should take into account the information available by 30 June 2028.

(10) The Authority proposed to change the residue definition to ‘total copper’. The Commission considers this new residue definition to be appropriate.

(11) The Commission consulted the European Union reference laboratories for residues of pesticides as regards the need to adapt certain LODs. Those laboratories proposed product specific LODs that are analytically achievable.

(12) Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(13) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .

Final provisions

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. Done at Brussels, 15 April 2026. For the Commission The President Ursula VON DER LEYEN

1 OJ L 70, 16.3.2005, p. 1 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2005/396/oj .

2 Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC ( OJ L 309, 24.11.2009, p. 1 , ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1107/oj ).

3 European Food Safety Authority, Reasoned opinion on the review of the existing maximum residue levels for copper compounds according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. EFSA Journal 2018;16(3):5212, https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2018.5212 .

4 European Food Safety Authority, Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of the existing Health-Based Guidance Values for copper and exposure assessment from all sources. EFSA Journal 2023;21(1):7728, https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2023.7728 .

5 European Food Safety Authority, Statement on the update of maximum residue levels (MRLs) for copper compounds in light of the EFSA scientific opinion on the re-evaluation of the Health-Based Guidance Values (HBGVs) and exposure assessment from all sources. EFSA Journal 2025;23e9271, https://doi.org/10.2903%2Fj.efsa.2025.9271 .

6 Available online : https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/resources/data-collection-chemicals .

Annexes II and III to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 are amended as follows:

(1) in Annex II, the following column is added:

Pesticide residues and maximum residue levels (mg/kg)

(1)(2)(3)
0100000FRUITS, FRESH or FROZEN; TREE NUTS
0110000Citrus fruits20 (+)
0110010Grapefruits(+)
0110020Oranges(+)
0110030Lemons(+)
0110040Limes(+)
0110050Mandarins(+)
0110990Others (2)(+)
0120000Tree nuts(+)
0120010Almonds40 (+)
0120020Brazil nuts40 (+)
0120030Cashew nuts30 (+)
0120040Chestnuts40 (+)
0120050Coconuts30 (+)
0120060Hazelnuts/cobnuts40 (+)
0120070Macadamias40 (+)
0120080Pecans40 (+)
0120090Pine nut kernels40 (+)
0120100Pistachios40 (+)
0120110Walnuts40 (+)
0120990Others (2)30 (+)
0130000Pome fruits6
0130010Apples
0130020Pears
0130030Quinces
0130040Medlars
0130050Loquats/Japanese medlars
0130990Others (2)
0140000Stone fruits
0140010Apricots5 (+)
0140020Cherries (sweet)10
0140030Peaches8
0140040Plums5 (+)
0140990Others (2)5 (+)
0150000Berries and small fruits
0151000(a): grapes100
0151010Table grapes
0151020Wine grapes
0152000(b): strawberries15
0153000(c): cane fruits5
0153010Blackberries
0153020Dewberries
0153030Raspberries (red and yellow)
0153990Others (2)
0154000(d): other small fruits and berries15
0154010Blueberries
0154020Cranberries
0154030Currants (black, red and white)
0154040Gooseberries (green, red and yellow)
0154050Rose hips
0154060Mulberries (black and white)
0154070Azaroles/Mediterranean medlars
0154080Elderberries
0154990Others (2)
0160000Miscellaneous fruits with
0161000(a): edible peel
0161010Dates20
0161020Figs20 (+)
0161030Table olives30 (+)
0161040Kumquats20
0161050Carambolas20
0161060Kaki/Japanese persimmons20 (+)
0161070Jambuls/jambolans20
0161990Others (2)20 (+)
0162000(b): inedible peel, small
0162010Kiwi fruits (green, red, yellow)30 (+)
0162020Litchis/lychees20 (+)
0162030Passionfruits/maracujas20 (+)
0162040Prickly pears/cactus fruits20 (+)
0162050Star apples/cainitos20 (+)
0162060American persimmons/Virginia kaki20 (+)
0162990Others (2)20 (+)
0163000(c): inedible peel, large20
0163010Avocados(+)
0163020Bananas(+)
0163030Mangoes(+)
0163040Papayas(+)
0163050Granate apples/pomegranates(+)
0163060Cherimoyas(+)
0163070Guavas(+)
0163080Pineapples(+)
0163090Breadfruits(+)
0163100Durians(+)
0163110Soursops/guanabanas(+)
0163990Others (2)(+)
0200000VEGETABLES, FRESH or FROZEN
0210000Root and tuber vegetables
0211000(a): potatoes7
0212000(b): tropical root and tuber vegetables5 (+)
0212010Cassava roots/manioc(+)
0212020Sweet potatoes(+)
0212030Yams(+)
0212040Arrowroots(+)
0212990Others (2)(+)
0213000(c): other root and tuber vegetables except sugar beets
0213010Beetroots5 (+)
0213020Carrots5 (+)
0213030Celeriacs/turnip rooted celeries5 (+)
0213040Horseradishes6
0213050Jerusalem artichokes5 (+)
0213060Parsnips5 (+)
0213070Parsley roots/Hamburg roots parsley5 (+)
0213080Radishes5 (+)
0213090Salsifies5 (+)
0213100Swedes/rutabagas5 (+)
0213110Turnips5 (+)
0213990Others (2)5 (+)
0220000Bulb vegetables
0220010Garlic5 (+)
0220020Onions5 (+)
0220030Shallots5 (+)
0220040Spring onions/green onions and Welsh onions70
0220990Others (2)5 (+)
0230000Fruiting vegetables
0231000(a): Solanaceae and Malvaceae
0231010Tomatoes10
0231020Sweet peppers/bell peppers20
0231030Aubergines/eggplants10
0231040Okra/lady's fingers5 (+)
0231990Others (2)5 (+)
0232000(b): cucurbits with edible peel5
0232010Cucumbers
0232020Gherkins
0232030Courgettes
0232990Others (2)
0233000(c): cucurbits with inedible peel10 (+)
0233010Melons(+)
0233020Pumpkins(+)
0233030Watermelons(+)
0233990Others (2)(+)
0234000(d): sweet corn10 (+)
0239000(e): other fruiting vegetables5
0240000Brassica vegetables (excluding brassica roots and brassica baby leaf crops)
0241000(a): flowering brassica20 (+)
0241010Broccoli(+)
0241020Cauliflowers(+)
0241990Others (2)(+)
0242000(b): head brassica20 (+)
0242010Brussels sprouts(+)
0242020Head cabbages(+)
0242990Others (2)(+)
0243000(c): leafy brassica30
0243010Chinese cabbages/pe-tsai
0243020Kales
0243990Others (2)
0244000(d): kohlrabies20 (+)
0250000Leaf vegetables, herbs and edible flowers
0251000(a): lettuces and salad plants150
0251010Lamb's lettuces/corn salads
0251020Lettuces
0251030Escaroles/broad-leaved endives
0251040Cresses and other sprouts and shoots
0251050Land cresses
0251060Roman rocket/rucola
0251070Red mustards
0251080Baby leaf crops (including brassica species)
0251990Others (2)
0252000(b): spinaches and similar leaves150
0252010Spinaches
0252020Purslanes
0252030Chards/beet leaves
0252990Others (2)
0253000(c): grape leaves and similar species30
0254000(d): watercresses150 (+)
0255000(e): witloofs/Belgian endives20 (+)
0256000(f): herbs and edible flowers150
0256010Chervil
0256020Chives
0256030Celery leaves
0256040Parsley
0256050Sage
0256060Rosemary
0256070Thyme
0256080Basil and edible flowers
0256090Laurel/bay leaves
0256100Tarragon
0256990Others (2)
0260000Legume vegetables20 (+)
0260010Beans (with pods)(+)
0260020Beans (without pods)(+)
0260030Peas (with pods)(+)
0260040Peas (without pods)(+)
0260050Lentils(+)
0260990Others (2)(+)
0270000Stem vegetables
0270010Asparagus5 (+)
0270020Cardoons20 (+)
0270030Celeries20
0270040Florence fennels20
0270050Globe artichokes30
0270060Leeks70
0270070Rhubarbs20
0270080Bamboo shoots20 (+)
0270090Palm hearts20 (+)
0270990Others (2)20 (+)
0280000Fungi, mosses and lichens20 (+)
0280010Cultivated fungi(+)
0280020Wild fungi(+)
0280990Mosses and lichens(+)
0290000Algae and prokaryotes organisms20 (+)
0300000PULSES20
0300010Beans(+)
0300020Lentils(+)
0300030Peas(+)
0300040Lupins/lupini beans(+)
0300990Others (2)(+)
0400000OILSEEDS AND OIL FRUITS
0401000Oilseeds
0401010Linseeds30 (+)
0401020Peanuts/groundnuts30 (+)
0401030Poppy seeds30 (+)
0401040Sesame seeds30 (+)
0401050Sunflower seeds40 (+)
0401060Rapeseeds/canola seeds30 (+)
0401070Soyabeans40 (+)
0401080Mustard seeds30 (+)
0401090Cotton seeds30 (+)
0401100Pumpkin seeds30 (+)
0401110Safflower seeds30 (+)
0401120Borage seeds30 (+)
0401130Gold of pleasure seeds30 (+)
0401140Hemp seeds30 (+)
0401150Castor beans30 (+)
0401990Others (2)30 (+)
0402000Oil fruits30
0402010Olives for oil production(+)
0402020Oil palms kernels(+)
0402030Oil palms fruits(+)
0402040Kapok(+)
0402990Others (2)(+)
0500000CEREALS
0500010Barley10 (+)
0500020Buckwheat and other pseudocereals20 (+)
0500030Maize/corn10 (+)
0500040Common millet/proso millet10 (+)
0500050Oat10 (+)
0500060Rice10 (+)
0500070Rye10 (+)
0500080Sorghum20 (+)
0500090Wheat10 (+)
0500990Others (2)10 (+)
0600000TEAS, COFFEE, HERBAL INFUSIONS, COCOA AND CAROBS
0610000Teas40 (+)
0620000Coffee beans50 (+)
0630000Herbal infusions from100
0631000(a): flowers(+)
0631010Chamomile(+)
0631020Hibiscus/roselle(+)
0631030Rose(+)
0631040Jasmine(+)
0631050Lime/linden(+)
0631990Others (2)(+)
0632000(b): leaves and herbs
0632010Strawberry(+)
0632020Rooibos(+)
0632030Mate/maté(+)
0632990Others (2)(+)
0633000(c): roots(+)
0633010Valerian(+)
0633020Ginseng(+)
0633990Others (2)(+)
0639000(d): any other parts of the plant(+)
0640000Cocoa beans50 (+)
0650000Carobs/Saint John's breads20 (+)
0700000HOPS1 500 (+)
0800000SPICES
0810000Seed spices40 (+)
0810010Anise/aniseed(+)
0810020Black caraway/black cumin(+)
0810030Celery(+)
0810040Coriander(+)
0810050Cumin(+)
0810060Dill(+)
0810070Fennel(+)
0810080Fenugreek(+)
0810090Nutmeg(+)
0810990Others (2)(+)
0820000Fruit spices40 (+)
0820010Allspice/pimento(+)
0820020Sichuan pepper(+)
0820030Caraway(+)
0820040Cardamom(+)
0820050Juniper berry(+)
0820060Peppercorn (black, green and white)(+)
0820070Vanilla(+)
0820080Tamarind(+)
0820990Others (2)(+)
0830000Bark spices40 (+)
0830010Cinnamon(+)
0830990Others (2)(+)
0840000Root and rhizome spices
0840010Liquorice40 (+)
0840020Ginger (10)
0840030Turmeric/curcuma40 (+)
0840040Horseradish (11)
0840990Others (2)40 (+)
0850000Bud spices40 (+)
0850010Cloves(+)
0850020Capers(+)
0850990Others (2)(+)
0860000Flower pistil spices40 (+)
0860010Saffron(+)
0860990Others (2)(+)
0870000Aril spices40 (+)
0870010Mace(+)
0870990Others (2)(+)
0900000SUGAR PLANTS5
0900010Sugar beet roots
0900020Sugar canes(+)
0900030Chicory roots(+)
0900990Others (2)(+)
1000000PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN – TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS
1010000Commodities from
1011000(a): swine
1011010Muscle5 (+)
1011020Fat5 (+)
1011030Liver60 (+)
1011040Kidney30 (+)
1011050Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)30 (+)
1011990Others (2)5 (+)
1012000(b): bovine
1012010Muscle5 (+)
1012020Fat5 (+)
1012030Liver300 (+)
1012040Kidney30 (+)
1012050Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)30 (+)
1012990Others (2)5 (+)
1013000(c): sheep
1013010Muscle5 (+)
1013020Fat5 (+)
1013030Liver300 (+)
1013040Kidney30 (+)
1013050Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)30 (+)
1013990Others (2)5 (+)
1014000(d): goat
1014010Muscle6 (+)
1014020Fat5 (+)
1014030Liver150 (+)
1014040Kidney30 (+)
1014050Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)30 (+)
1014990Others (2)5 (+)
1015000(e): equine
1015010Muscle5 (+)
1015020Fat5 (+)
1015030Liver30 (+)
1015040Kidney30 (+)
1015050Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)30 (+)
1015990Others (2)5 (+)
1016000(f): poultry
1016010Muscle5 (+)
1016020Fat5 (+)
1016030Liver60 (+)
1016040Kidney30 (+)
1016050Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)30 (+)
1016990Others (2)5 (+)
1017000(g): other farmed terrestrial animals
1017010Muscle5 (+)
1017020Fat5 (+)
1017030Liver300 (+)
1017040Kidney30 (+)
1017050Edible offals (other than liver and kidney)30 (+)
1017990Others (2)5 (+)
1020000Milk2 (+)
1020010Cattle(+)
1020020Sheep(+)
1020030Goat(+)
1020040Horse(+)
1020990Others (2)(+)
1030000Birds eggs2 (+)
1030010Chicken(+)
1030020Duck(+)
1030030Geese(+)
1030040Quail(+)
1030990Others (2)(+)
1040000Honey and other apiculture products (7)1,5 (+)
1050000Amphibians and reptiles6 (+)
1060000Terrestrial invertebrate animals6 (+)
1070000Wild terrestrial vertebrate animals70 (+)
1100000PRODUCTS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN – FISH, FISH PRODUCTS AND ANY OTHER MARINE AND FRESHWATER FOOD PRODUCTS (8)
1200000PRODUCTS OR PART OF PRODUCTS EXCLUSIVELY USED FOR ANIMAL FEED PRODUCTION (8)
1300000PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS (9)
(+): Pesticide-product combination for which a footnote exists. The list of footnotes is provided below.

(2) in Part A of Annex III, the column for copper compounds is deleted.

Footnotes

  1. For the complete list of products of plant and animal origin to which MRLs apply, reference should be made to Annex I 2

  2. Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC (, ELI: ). 2

  3. European Food Safety Authority, Reasoned opinion on the review of the existing maximum residue levels for copper compounds according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. EFSA Journal 2018;16(3):5212, . 2

  4. European Food Safety Authority, Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of the existing Health-Based Guidance Values for copper and exposure assessment from all sources. EFSA Journal 2023;21(1):7728, . 2

  5. European Food Safety Authority, Statement on the update of maximum residue levels (MRLs) for copper compounds in light of the EFSA scientific opinion on the re-evaluation of the Health-Based Guidance Values (HBGVs) and exposure assessment from all sources. EFSA Journal 2025;23e9271, . 2

  6. Available online : . 2

Continue your research in ChatGPT or Claude

Connect Omnilex to search the legal corpus from your AI assistant.