A European Union (EU) regulation, which sets harmonized maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides entered into force on Monday.

The new rules will increase food safety and allow traders and importers to do business smoothly as confusion over dealing with 27 lists of national MRLs is eliminated, said the European Commission, the executive body of the EU.

With the previous regime, different MRLs could apply to the same pesticide for the same crop in different EU member states.

"Today represents a milestone in our effort to ensure that food in Europe is safe. The new rules apply the principle that food produced or imported in one member state must be safe for consumers in all of them," said EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou.

The new legislation covers approximately 1,100 pesticides currently or formerly used in agriculture in or outside the EU. Itlists MRLs for 315 agricultural products. These MRLs also apply to processed products, adjusted to take account of dilution or concentration during processing.

(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2008)