Updated Information on Taiwan's MRL Enforcement Program for Cherries (Original document dated May 4) May 18, 2009 BACKGROUND:  In February and March, pesticide testing on imported apples by the Republic of China (Taiwan) resulted in detections of pesticides for which no local maximum residue limit (MRL) standards existed.  Eleven containers of apples from the Pacific Northwest were detained due to the positive detection of fenpyroximate (Fujimite - three containers) or endosulfan (Thiodan - eight containers).  As cherry season begins, growers and packers need to pay close attention to Taiwan's MRL regulations to avoid, if at all possible, problems when exporting sweet cherries to that market. CURRENT SITUATION:  The table on our website lists current U.S. and Taiwan MRLs for pesticides commonly used on sweet cherries.  The table also indicates (with an asterisk) those chemicals for which the government of Taiwan is now testing upon arrival.  Please note that for regulatory purposes, although botanically incorrect, when an MRL is listed as covering pome fruit, Taiwan includes cherries and stone fruit under the pome fruit category.   Because of industry reliance on quinoxyfen (Quintec) for control of powdery mildew, the NHC asked the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) to provide an update on MRL establishment progress for quinoxyfen in Taiwan.  According to AIT, the government of Taiwan is in the process of considering comments to their proposed MRL of 0.3 ppm for quinoxyfen on cherries.  The NHC provided information to our government that Taiwan's proposed MRL was lower than both the Codex MRL (0.4 ppm) and the U.S. tolerance (0.7 ppm). Taiwan will not set a permanent MRL without finishing its review of and responding to all comments received on its original proposed MRL.  This comment period closed on May 3, 2009.   Dow AgroSciences’ representative in Taiwan has also been in contact with DOH to request a speedy approval of the quinoxyfen/cherry MRL to prepare for the upcoming cherry season. AIT has also provided guidance to the NHC that, contrary to the NHC's previous understanding, quinoxyfen is not on the list of 196 active ingredients in Taiwan’s current MRL residue screening guidelines.  Shippers are cautioned that this list is subject to change without prior notification. There are six pesticides on the testing list, used on cherries in the Pacific Northwest, for which no MRLs are established in Taiwan.  These are Bravo (chlorothalonil), Provado (imidacloprid), malathion, Supracide (methidathion), Actara (thiamethoxam) and Flint (trifloxystrobin).  The NHC cannot warranty that this list of targeted chemicals will not change during the 2009 cherry production and marketing season.  Cherries treated with these six pesticides should not be sent to Taiwan or, at a minimum, the fruit should be tested to determine if unapproved residues remain.  Additionally, there are a number of commonly used pesticides for which the MRLs in Taiwan are lower than U.S. tolerances.  Care should be used when exporting fruit treated with these chemicals as well. Shippers should be aware that Taiwan employs a hold and test system.  Containers of cherries can be held at customs for three to five days until residue tests are completed.   During recent meetings in Taiwan, NHC staff had expressed concern that this policy would have a negative affect on fruit quality.  We were assured by government officials that procedures exist to allow importers to move loads into cold storage.  However, local importers noted that the procedure to move containers to their cold storage facilities required extensive paperwork and the payment of customs fees which were difficult to reclaim should the load be rejected. The NHC was informed by a private industry source on May 18 that a shipment of 216 cartons of sweet cherries, grown in California, was rejected in Taiwan due to the presence of tebuconazole (Elite) residues.  These cherries had been treated post harvest with Elite and had residues of 2.97 ppm.  The MRL for this chemical in Taiwan on cherries is set at 2 ppm. CONTACT:  For additional information contact Mark Powers or Dr. Mike Willett, Northwest Horticultural Council at 509/453-3193.   Northwest Horticultural Council 105 South 18th Street, Suite 105 Yakima, Washington 98901, USA Voice: (509) 453-3193, Fax: (509) 457-7615 E-mail general@nwhort.org