eu maximum residue levels for acrinathrin metalaxyl and thiabendazole in november 2017 peru raised a concern over the european unions lowering of mrls for three pesticides acrinathrin metalaxyl and thiabendazole under regulation eu 2017 1164 which would enter into force on 21 january 2018. peru stressed that imports of fruits and vegetables into the european union would be affected and highlighted the impact this already had on its mango production as 62 of its exports were destined to the european union. peru requested a scientific justification for the measure which would lower the mrls for thiabendazole from 5 to 0.01mg kg a level more restrictive than the relevant codex standard of 5mg kg. peru explained that the pesticides were used to protect fruits against diseases caused by fungi in particular anthracnosis and guarantee their shelf life. peru presented document g sps gen 1586 which contained information about the measures impact on peruvian exports. peru finally argued that the measure might be inconsistent with articles 2 and 5 of the sps agreement. bolivia brazil colombia costa rica the dominican republic ecuador guatemala nigeria and the united states shared the concern raised by peru. the united states indicated a particular interest because for sweet potato the thiabendazole mrl would be lowered from 15mg kg to the default level of 0.01mg kg due to a lack of residue trial data on sweet potato. the data was being generated and would be submitted at the earliest possible. the united states explained that no risk to consumers had been identified and that thiabendazole was used as an emergency cro protection tool to manage black rot for which no viable alternative existed. without an adequate mrl to support exports to the european union sweet potato growers would either lose market access or risk a black rot outbreak which could be devastating to the industry and result in unnecessary food waste. the united states planned to submit an import tolerance application and requested an expedited review. colombia emphasized the effect the measure would have on its banana and melon exports. the dominican republic requested an explanation of the measure under article 5.8 of the sps agreement because of the measures impact on mango trade. costa rica urged the european union to consider the codex mrl for thiabendazole. members underlined the importance of basing measures on risk assessment and scientific evidence and emphasized that codex was the reference as the relevant international standard. the european union explained that the proposed mrls were based on the european food safety authoritys efsa identification of dietary intake concerns and data gaps in their assessment of mrls for thiabendazole in mangoes. the european union reported that comments received from members in response to notification g sps n eu 174 had not presented specific new data for re-evaluation and invited members to apply for import tolerances for affected products accompanied by substantial new data addressing efsas concerns. the european union noted that some mango producing countries had replaced thiabendazole with alternative substances. finally the european union reminded members that it had provided an information note in june 2016 on the on-going review of eu mrls which had been updated in june 2017. it was available on the european commission webpage on pesticides and had been circulated as document g sps gen 1494 rev.1. in march 2018 peru reiterated its concern regarding the lowering of eu mrls for acrinathrin metalaxyl and thiabendazole under regulation eu 2017 1164 which had entered into force on 21 january 2018. peru emphasized the negative impact of this measure on its fruit and vegetable exports to the european union. in particular peru highlighted its concerns with efsas categorization of mango which had led to more restrictive eu mrls being applied than the codex standard of 5mg kg. peru requested that the european union review this measure which it