Rice Trade: Reports Shines Light on Impact of Residue Limits on Exports
By Peter Bachmann, USA Rice
Late last month, the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) released a long-awaited first volume report on the global economic impact of missing and low pesticide maximum residue levels (MRL) on international agricultural trade.
The USITC solicited comments from across the U.S. agriculture industry, following a request by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and focusing on the financial toll that MRLs take on commodity export markets.
Both USA Rice and the California Rice Commission provided comments to the USITC in December 2019, outlining concerns in several countries where a lack of an MRL or low MRLs for crop protection tools used by U.S. rice farmers has impacted U.S. rice exports.
As pest pressures grow with the introduction of new invasive species and pests continue to develop resistance to several significant crop protectants, it has become increasingly important to have access to a full menu of products deemed safe by U.S. regulators and researchers.
In the U.S., crop protectants are registered and residue limits are set by the Environmental Protection Agency following a thorough, lengthy risk assessment process looking at effects on human, animal, and environmental health. While this science-based process is cumbersome, it has proven effective.
The United Nations’ Codex Alimentarius Commission is also responsible for setting non-binding international standards, using a science-based method and relying on significant research from around the world.