Current situation on setting of pesticide maximum residue limits in food commodities of animal origin in Codex Alimentarius Commission

Pesticide residues in food commodities of animal origin have been in the spotlight in recent years. Currently, however, the practice of pesticide dietary risk assessment and maximum residue limits (MRL) recommendation in food of animal origin based on experimental data in China is very few. In this article, data requirements, estimation of pesticide residue level, dietary risk assessment, and MRL recommendation methods with respect to food commodities of animal origin were presented in the light of Joint Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) practices. Meanwhile, the current status of pesticide residue definitions and MRL establishment in food commodities of animal origin in Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) was analyzed. Suggestions and advises were given for relevant research aspects considering the actual situation in China.