Five substances with no MRLs: Regulation (EU) 2026/752 adds to Annex IV, among others, lysate of the amoeba Willaertia magna, magnesium hydroxide E528 and grape seed extract — the 0.01 mg/kg default no longer applies to them
Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/752 of 31 March 2026, published on 1 April, adds five plant protection active substances to Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005: processed Allium fistulosum, lysate of Willaertia magna, magnesium hydroxide E528, dried pellets of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) and Vitis vinifera seed extract. Until now the 0.01 mg/kg default under Article 18(1)(b) applied to them; inclusion in Annex IV means that MRLs are not required.
- Four are basic substances approved in 2024–2025: magnesium hydroxide E528 (13 March 2024), sainfoin pellets (27 June 2024), processed Allium fistulosum (11 November 2024) and grape seed extract (22 January 2025). In each case the Commission found that the conditions of use will not lead to residues posing a risk to consumers.
- Lysate of Willaertia magna C2c Maky was approved on 17 June 2025 as a low-risk active substance. EFSA (peer review of January 2025) assessed it as a fungicide against downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) on grapevines and table grapes and concluded that toxicological reference values are not needed, as the substance shows no hazardous properties.
- Of the five criteria for inclusion in Annex IV under guidance SANCO/11188/2013 Rev. 2, EFSA found only criterion III (reference values unnecessary) met; criteria I, II and V were not met, and IV (natural exposure higher than from use as a plant protection product) could not be concluded. The Commission based the entry on the absence of hazardous properties.
- For pesticide residue laboratories this means these substances are not analysed in food for MRL compliance. EFSA describes the lysate specification by the number of copies of the strain’s genomic DNA quantified by quantitative PCR — 1.49×10⁵–2.42×10⁶ copies/mg of technical substance (dry weight); since no residue definitions were set, post-approval control methods are not required.