EFSA Publishes New Mapping Table of Codex Food Codes with Corresponding EU Food Codes to Support Pesticide MRLs Implementation

On 11 August the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a report presenting a new mapping table linking Codex food codes with the corresponding EU food commodity codes set out in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 396/2005. The initiative aims to support the scientific assessment and consistent implementation of Codex Maximum Residue Limits (CXLs) for pesticide maximum residue levels (MRLs) within the European Union.

Codex CXLs may be incorporated into EU legislation where they are compatible with the EU regulatory framework, supported by adequate scientific evidence and considered safe for European consumers. Since 2011, EFSA has supported the European Commission and EU Member States by assessing whether individual CXLs can be incorporated into Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, which establishes harmonised maximum residue levels (MRLs) for pesticides in food and feed of plant and animal origin.

The new mapping table enables users to identify the EU food commodity codes corresponding to Codex food codes, facilitating the evaluation and implementation of Codex CXLs within EU frameworks.

According to EFSA, the table will be regularly updated to reflect future revisions to Codex food classifications and changes to the EU commodity classification system.