European Union member-states will lose the right to set their own limits for pesticide levels in fruit, vegetables and processed foods under EU rules expected to come into force in two year's time.
The new tougher limits could make it "difficult or impossible" to grow some crops, the Department of Agriculture and Food has told the Oireachtas Committee on European Affairs.
Currently, member-states can set their own maximum levels in cases where the European Commission's Directorate General for Agriculture and Fisheries has not already fixed standards.
A 1976 EU directive which allows for higher national levels is "widely accepted" to be "outdated and flawed", the Department of Agriculture and Food has told the Oireachtas.
In a briefing note for the Oireachtas committee, the Department said varying standards have restricted some food exports throughout the EU.
Meanwhile, nearly 400 pesticides will be withdrawn from sale in the EU by the end of this year because they have been deemed unacceptable, uneconomic, or no longer favoured by pesticide companies.
Maximum residue levels (MRLs) for these pesticides will still have to be set, however, since one member-state has already warned that it will ban trade in all produce grown using them from 2004 onwards.
Nearly 400 other pesticides will remain on sale even though MRLs for them have not been set, the Commission's Agriculture Directorate-General warned.
The Department of Agriculture continued: "As maximum residue levels will now be set for all pesticides, additional staff and laboratory resources will be required for the analysis of a higher number of samples.
"From a grower's point of view, the setting of more MRLs may result in a reduction in the number of crops that can be treated and may in some cases make it difficult or impossible to cultivate some crops."
In addition, pesticide manufacturers will have to reassess the instructions and labelling on their products, the committee was told.
Scheduled to come into force in January 2005 for all fresh fruit and vegetables, the proposal will replace four existing EU directives dating back to 1976.
The new European Food Safety Authority will assess the risk posed by the pesticides, though the Commission will make final decisions about maximum residue levels.
Residue levels will be restricted to 0.01 mg per kg where there is insufficient data to demonstrate that a higher level would endanger consumer health.
"For almost all cases investigated in pesticides in use, a MRL of 0.01 mg per kg is protective of the consumer. In exceptional cases where this may not be true, a lower level could be explicitly set," said the Commission.
The European Union will face a major task to set 160,000 different MRLs for 100 different crops and 160 different types of agricultural pesticide.
Currently, MRLs are set after test trials show that a pesticide is safe for the user, the consumer and the environment and that its residues are at acceptable levels.
A five year long examination of all major pesticides and crops by the Commission has just concluded and the results will be investigated shortly.
