Since Brexit, the UK has seen significant changes to its pesticide regulations, raising concerns among food safety and environmental advocates. Previously aligned with the EU’s rigorous pesticide safety standards, Great Britain has now adopted maximum residue levels (MRLs) for over 100 food items that allow far higher pesticide residues. For instance, the MRLs for certain pesticides on products like tea, beans, and avocados have increased drastically, with some allowable levels now thousands of times higher than under EU rules. Notably, residues of glyphosate—a probable carcinogen according to the World Health Organization—are now permitted at levels 7.5 times higher on beans than under EU regulations.
This shift has implications for both public health and environmental sustainability. Many of the newly permitted pesticide levels include chemicals known for potential adverse health effects, including reproductive toxins, carcinogens, and endocrine disruptors. These changes were implemented between 2022 and 2024, with regulatory alignment moving away from EU standards in favour of the Codex Alimentarius, an international standard that some believe prioritises trade flexibility over strict consumer protections.
The contrast between the EU’s increasingly stringent pesticide standards and Great Britain’s more permissive approach is stark, as the EU has banned dozens of harmful pesticides in recent years, while Great Britain has not enacted similar bans. Advocacy groups, including the Pesticide Action Network (PAN UK), have urged the UK government to reverse these changes to protect consumer health and environmental safety. This regulatory shift poses risks to UK consumer confidence in food safety and may drive demand for certifications that prioritise stringent pesticide management standards. To learn more about certification options that can support high safety standards, contact PJRFSL at [email protected].
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