Import Tolerance and MRL Setting

Food manufacturers can use locally approved pesticides, which are not necessarily approved for use in other markets of their choice. If such food treated with locally approved plant protection products is to be exported internationally, it needs to meet Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) and Import Tolerances (IT) accepted in target markets.

For example, any agricultural product imported to Japan, where non-approved plant protection products have been applied too, needs to meet Japan’s MRL setting.
Japan has adopted a positive list system, with MRL being set to 0.01 ppm if there is no specific request for MRL setting from applicants (e.g. importers, food manufactures and agrochemical companies). Applicants can request for a specific MRL to be set, based on the “Guideline for Application for Establishment and Revision of Maximum Residue Limits for Agricultural Chemicals used outside Japan”.