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    PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN FOOD - 1984


    Sponsored jointly by FAO and WHO






    EVALUATIONS 1984




    The monographs



    Data and recommendations of the joint meeting
    of the FAO Panel of Experts on Pesticide Residues
    in Food and the Environment and the
    WHO Expert Group on Pesticide Residues
    Rome, 24 September - 3 October 1984

    Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
    Rome 1985

    DIFLUBENZURON

    Explanation

         Diflubenzuron was evaluated by the Joint Meeting on Pesticide
    Residues in 1981 and 1983. 1/ At the 1981 JMPR, a temporary ADI was
    allocated and TMRLs were proposed for various crops. The 1983 JMPR
    reviewed the data on some crops presented in the 1981 Evaluations. The
    meeting noted that supporting data on cabbage, Brussels sprouts and
    plums had been accidentally omitted in the 1981 Evaluations. On
    reviewing the data on residues from supervised trials in plums, the
    meeting concluded that they would not support the maximum residue
    levels for plums estimated in 1981 and recommended that the MRL for
    plums be withdrawn until further data become available.

         The 1984 JMPR received extensive information on the authorization
    and registration status for diflubenzuron in many countries, together
    with information on current good agricultural practice. The
    information on national MRLs was updated.

         Residue data were provided on residues from supervised trials on
    plums, black currants and tomatoes and data on good agricultural
    practices for diflubenzuron on these crops.

    RESIDUES IN FOOD AND THEIR EVALUATION

    USE PATTERN

         Uses of diflubenzuron on crops included in the supervised trials
    reported to the 1984 JMPR are summarized in Table 1 (Greece, 1984;
    Romania, 1984; Switzerland, 1984; United Kingdom, 1984).

    RESIDUES RESULTING FROM SUPERVISED TRIALS

         Additional residue data on plums and residue data on black
    currants and tomatoes were reported to the meeting. The results of
    these trials are summarized in Tables 2 (plums and black currants) and
    3 (tomatoes) (Netherlands, 1984; United Kingdom, 1984).


        TABLE 1.  Diflubenzuron Use on Plums and Tomatoes

                                                                                                        

    Crop        Country          Dosage rate               Main pests              Pre-harvest
                                                                                   interval (days)
                                                                                                        

    Plum        United           0.15 kg a.i./ha           Winter moth,                 14
                Kingdom                                    fruit tree tortrix
                                                           plum fruit moth

                Greece           20-37.5 g a.i./100 1      Caterpillars

                Romania          15 g a.i./100 1           Plum fruit moth
                                                           Grapholitha molesta
                                                           G. funebrana

                Switzerland      10 g a.i./100 1           Noctuidae spp.
                                                           Erannis defoliaria           42

    Tomato      Greece           10-25 g a.i./100 1        Caterpillars
                                                           Colorado beetle
                                                                                                        

    1 See Annex 2 for FAO and WHO documentation.

    TABLE 2.  Diflubenzuron Residues in Fruit from Supervised Trials

                                                                                                               
                                     Application 1
                                                                             Residues (mg/kg)
    Crop           Country/       No.           Rate              at intervals (days) after application
                   Year                      kg a.i./ha                                                        
                                            (g a.i./100 1)      7/8       13/14     19/21     27/28     56
                                                                                                               

    Plums          Netherlands    1         (20 g/100 1)                                      0.02
                   1977           1         (40 g/100 1)                                      0.06

                   United         1              1                                                      <0.05
                   Kingdom        1              1                                                      <0.05
                                  1              1                                                      <0.05
                                  1              1                                                      <0.05

                   1979           1              0.15           0.99      0.48      0.49      0.45
                                  1              0.15           0.17      0.04

    Black          United         1              0.15           0.24      0.32      0.25      0.16
    currants       Kingdom        1              0.15           0.64      0.96      0.30      0.74
                   1979           1              0.25           0.03      0.04      0.02
                                                                                                               

    1  A 25 percent W.P. formulation was used.

    TABLE 3.  Diflubenzuron Residues in Tomatoes from Supervised Trials

                                                                                                       
                                   Application 1
                                                                   Residues (mg/kg) at intervals
    Crop           Country/       No.           Rate                 (days) after application
                   Year                       kg a.i./ha                                                
                                            (g a.i./100 1)      1         3         5/6       7
                                                                                                       

                   United         1         (12.5 g/100 1)      0.39      0.23      0.13      0.07
                   Kingdom        1         (15 g/100 1)        1.22      0.99      0.85      0.81
                   1978           1              0.25           0.74      0.46      0.63      0.68
                                                                                                       

    1  A 25 percent W.P. formulation was used.
    
    NATIONAL MAXIMUM RESIDUE LIMITS REPORTED TO THE MEETING

         The following national MRLs, which were not reported in earlier
    evaluations or have since been amended, were brought to the attention
    of the 1984 JMPR.  The MRLs refer to deflubenzuron parent compound.

                                                                     

    Country          Crop                           Residue (mg/kg)
                                                                     

    Canada           pasture grass                  negligible

    Italy            apples                         0.5
                     pears                          0.5

    The 1            pome fruit                     1
    Netherlands      cabbage                        1
    (March 1984)     mushrooms                      0.1
                     eggs                           0.05
                     milk                           0.05
                     meat                           0.05
                     poultry meat                   0.05
                     other food commodities         0 (0.05)

    South Africa     apples                         1
                     pears                          1

                     pome fruit                     1
                     mushrooms                      0.5

    United States    cotton seed                    0.2
                     eggs                           0.05
                     milk                           0.05
                     fat, meat, meat by-products
                     of cattle, goats, hogs,
                     horses, poultry, sheep         0.05
                                                                     

    1  Date MRL came into force.


    APPRAISAL

         The meeting reviewed residue data from supervised trials on
    plums, available to the 1981 JMPR, together with data not evaluated at
    earlier meetings. Residue data from supervised trials on black
    currants and tomatoes not evaluated at earlier meetings were also
    reviewed. The data provided a basis for estimating new maximum residue
    levels, which could be recommended as temporary maximum residue
    limits.

    RECOMMENDATIONS

         The following temporary MRLs are recommended, to apply to
    diflubenzuron only. In view of the limited residue data, the limits
    are temporary, irrespective of the status of the ADI, until adequate
    data are provided, preferably from more than one region.

                                                                     

    Commodity          TMRL       Pre-harvest interval on which
                       (mg/kg)    the recommended limits are based
                                            (days)
                                                                     

    Plums              1                      14
    Black currants     1                      14
    Tomatoes           1                       3-7
                                                                     

    FURTHER WORK OR INFORMATION

    Required (by 1986)

         Additional residue data from supervised trials on plums, black
    currants and tomatoes.

    REFERENCES

    Greece. Information on diflubenzuron submitted by Greece to FAO.
    1984

    Netherlands. Information on diflubenzuron submitted by The Netherlands
    1984      to FAO.

    Romania. Information on diflubenzuron submitted by Romania to FAO.
    1984

    Switzerland. Information on diflubenzuron submitted by Switzerland to
    1984      FAO.

    United Kingdom. Information on diflubenzuron submitted by the United
    1984      Kingdom to FAO.


    See Also:
       Toxicological Abbreviations
       Diflubenzuron (EHC 184, 1996)
       Diflubenzuron (HSG 99, 1995)
       Diflubenzuron (Pesticide residues in food: 1981 evaluations)
       Diflubenzuron (Pesticide residues in food: 1983 evaluations)
       Diflubenzuron (Pesticide residues in food: 1985 evaluations Part II Toxicology)
       Diflubenzuron (JMPR Evaluations 2001 Part II Toxicological)