PHOSPHONIC ACID AND ITS SALTS EXPRESSED AS PHOSPHONIC ACID

From 17 April this year, in Regulation No. 396/2005 on maximum permissible levels of pesticide residues in and on food and feed of plant and animal origin, the previous definition of Fosetyl-Al (sum of fosetyl, phosphonic acid and their salts, expressed as fosetyl) has changed to Phosphonic acid and its salts expressed as phosphonic acid.
For this reason, in our Phosphonic acid and fosetyl (eco) service, there has also been a change in the naming of parameters, to:

• fosetyl
• phosphonic acid and its salts expressed as phosphonic acid.

By Regulations No 2024/2619 of 8 October 2024 and No 2025/581 of 27 March 2025, the European Commission changed the residue definition for fosetyl-Al (fosetyl aluminium), potassium phosphonates and disodium phosphonates to “phosphonic acid and its salts” and updated the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for these substances in certain products.

What are the changes?

Change of residue definition

The previous residue definition included the sum of fosetyl, phosphonic acid and their salts, expressed as fosetyl. The new definition focuses only on phosphonic acid and its salts, expressed as phosphonic acid. This change was introduced to better reflect the real residues in food products and facilitate their monitoring.

Multiple sources of residues

Phosphonic acid may originate not only from the use of plant protection products such as fosetyl-aluminium, but also from other sources including: fertilizers, plant strengtheners and soil additives containing potassium phosphonates. Therefore, it was necessary to adapt the MRLs to cover all potential sources of residues.
Therefore, based on the new scientific data and the consumer risk assessment, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommended adapting the MRLs for phosphonic acid in various food products. In some cases, the MRLs were lowered, while in others they were increased, depending on the level of residues and the potential health risk.

It is also worth mentioning that

“The results for fosetyl should not be taken into account and the default maximum level of 0.01 mg/kg in accordance with Article 18(1)(b) of Regulation No 396/2005 does not apply. The MRL for its metabolite phosphonic acid applies.”

This means that the results for fosetyl are not taken into account when assessing the tested product. Only the maximum level for phosphonic acid and its salts applies.