Acetamiprid in honey: Regulation (EU) 2026/876 raises the MRL from the limit of quantification of 0.05 mg/kg to 1 mg/kg; in honey the residue is acetamiprid alone, in other animal products the sum with IM-2-1
Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/876 of 21 April 2026, published on 22 April, amends the MRLs for acetamiprid, aclonifen, deltamethrin, oxathiapiprolin and potassium phosphonates in selected products at the applicants’ request, at the levels recommended by EFSA. The key change for laboratories testing honey: the acetamiprid MRL in honey and other apiculture products is 1 mg/kg.
- The applications concerned acetamiprid in honey, aclonifen in anise, deltamethrin in cherries, oxathiapiprolin in Brussels sprouts, kale, watercress and herbs, and potassium phosphonates in apricots and cherries. EFSA found the data sufficient in all cases.
- According to the EFSA opinion (EFSA Journal 2025;23(3):e9300), the previous acetamiprid MRL in honey corresponded to the limit of quantification of 0.05 mg/kg. The applicant, Albaugh Europe, submitted the request in Slovenia; new tunnel trials on melliferous crops, together with earlier ones, allowed an MRL of 1 mg/kg to be derived. The highest residue in the trials was 0.55 mg/kg, and metabolite IM-2-1 remained below the limit of quantification of 0.005 mg/kg.
- The enforcement residue definition differs for honey and other products of animal origin: in honey acetamiprid alone is determined, in other animal products the sum of acetamiprid and N-desmethyl-acetamiprid (IM-2-1), expressed as acetamiprid.
- EFSA states that methods validated at limits of quantification of 0.01 and 0.05 mg/kg are available to control acetamiprid in honey. The risk assessment used the ADI and ARfD of 0.005 mg/kg bw endorsed by the Commission in 2024; exposure from honey does not exceed these values.