Statement on the revised targeted risk assessment for certain maximum residue levels for nicotine

In accordance with Article 43 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) of Ireland requested EFSA to re-evaluate the acute (short-term) risk for European consumers related to nicotine exposure via residues in rose hips (code 0154050), teas (Camellia sinensis, 0610000) and capers (0850020) at the level equal to the temporary maximum residue level (tMRL) established in Reg. (EU) 2022/1290 and the tMRL recently voted in the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (PAFF Committee). The requestor asked EFSA to perform the calculation with a revised version of EFSA PRIMo rev. 3.1, in which the Irish children consumption data for tea should be replaced with consumption data for tea from another EU Member State, since the Irish consumption data implemented in EFSA PRIMo rev. 3.1 were not confirmed by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. In the present assessment, EFSA confirmed the previously identified potential acute exposure risks for the intake of nicotine through rose hips jam containing residues at the current EU MRL of 0.3 mg/kg. The new tMRL for rose hips of 0.2 mg/kg is unlikely to pose a risk to consumers. For the consumption of tea and capers containing residues at the levels of the current and the recently voted tMRLs, a consumer health risk is unlikely.

Dissipation Behavior and Acute Dietary Risk Assessment of Thiamethoxam and Its Metabolite Clothianidin on Spinach

Thiamethoxam and its metabolite clothianidin residues pose a potential threat to human health. This study aims to investigate the residue behavior and acute dietary risk assessment of thiamethoxam and clothianidin on spinach. Thiamethoxam and clothianidin were extracted using a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, safe (QuEChERS) method and analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). At spike levels from 0.01 to 5 mg kg−1, the average recoveries of both analytes were in the range of 94.5−105.5%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 3.8−10.9%. The dissipation behavior of thiamethoxam followed first-order kinetics, with half-lives of ≤1.6 days. Clothianidin appeared readily as a plant metabolite with highest level exhibited during 3 to 5 days after application. Temperature and light may be two main factors for degradation of thiamethoxam. Besides, acute risk assessment of thiamethoxam and clothianidin was evaluated with risk quotients (RQs) <100%, which suggested a low health risk for all consumer groups of Chinese residents.