Guidance on the assessment of pesticide residues in rotational crops.

EFSA has prepared a guidance document on the assessment of studies on the nature and magnitude of pesticide residues in rotational crop studies as defined in Section 6.6 of the Annex to Regulation (EU) No 283/2013. This guidance document supports the practical implementation of the relevant OECD Test Guidelines (TGs) and OECD Guidance Documents in a harmonised way, respecting the EU regulatory framework for the pesticide assessments.

Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for prochloraz in various commodities.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant ADAMA Agriculture BV submitted an application to the competent national authority in Belgium (evaluating Member State (EMS)) to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance prochloraz in sugar beet root and in liver and kidney of swine and ruminant. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive an MRL proposal for sugar beet root. Residues in sugar beet tops from the new use were found to contribute significantly to the livestock exposure.

Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for fenpyrazamine in lettuces, salad plants, spinaches and similar leaves.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Sumitomo Chemical Agro Europe S.A.S.

Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for difenoconazole in various crops.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant BASF SE submitted a request to the competent national authority in the United Kingdom to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance difenoconazole in various crops. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposals for all crops under consideration. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of difenoconazole in plant matrices under consideration.

Review of the existing maximum residue levels for fenpyrazamine according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance fenpyrazamine. To assess the occurrence of fenpyrazamine residues in plants, processed commodities, rotational crops and livestock, EFSA considered the conclusions derived in the framework of Directive 91/414/EEC as well as the European authorisations reported by Member States (including the supporting residues data). Based on the assessment of the available data, MRL proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance trifloxystrobin.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, the United Kingdom, and co-rapporteur Member State, Greece, for the pesticide active substance trifloxystrobin are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of trifloxystrobin as a fungicide on apple, pear, quince, grapes and strawberry.

Modification of the existing maximum residue level for tefluthrin in carrots.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Syngenta France S.A.S.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance etoxazole.

The conclusions of EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, Greece, and the co-rapporteur Member State, the United Kingdom, for the pesticide active substance etoxazole and the assessment of applications for maximum residue levels (MRLs) are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of etoxazole as an acaricide on pome fruits, plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries (sweet), citrus, grapes, strawberries, tomatoes/eggplants, cucurbits inedible peel, cotton seeds and ornamental plants.

Modification of the existing maximum residue level for abamectin in bananas.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Cheminova Agro Italia Srl submitted a request to the competent national authority in Italy to modify the existing maximum residue level (MRL) for the active substance abamectin in bananas. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive MRL proposals for all crops under consideration. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of abamectin in the plant matrix under consideration.

Modification of the existing maximum residue level for acibenzolar--methyl in kiwi fruits.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Syngenta France SAS submitted a request to the competent national authority in France to modify the existing maximum residue level (MRL) for the active substance in kiwi fruits. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive a MRL proposal for the crop under consideration. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of acibenzolar--methyl in the plant matrix under consideration.

Review of the existing maximum residue levels for bromuconazole according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance bromuconazole. To assess the occurrence of bromuconazole residues in plants, processed commodities, rotational crops and livestock, EFSA considered the conclusions derived in the framework of Directive 91/414/EEC as well as the authorisations reported by Member States (including the supporting residues data). Based on the assessment of the available data, MRL proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out.

Modification of the existing maximum residue level for fluopyram in purslanes.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Bayer CropScience submitted a request to the competent national authority in the Netherlands to modify the existing maximum residue level (MRL) for the active substance fluopyram in purslanes. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive a MRL proposal for purslanes. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of fluopyram in plant matrices/on the commodity under consideration.

Modification of the existing maximum residue level for bifenazate in soya bean.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the applicant Arysta LifeScience Great Britain Ltd submitted a request to the competent national authority in Italy to set new maximum residue level (MRL) for the active substance bifenazate in soya beans. The data submitted in support of the request were found to be sufficient to derive a MRL proposal for soya beans. Adequate analytical methods for enforcement are available to control the residues of bifenazate and its metabolite in the commodity under consideration.

Peer review of the pesticide risk assessment of the active substance pethoxamid.

The conclusions of the EFSA following the peer review of the initial risk assessments carried out by the competent authorities of the rapporteur Member State, Austria, and co-rapporteur Member State, the Czech Republic, for the pesticide active substance pethoxamid are reported. The context of the peer review was that required by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 844/2012. The conclusions were reached on the basis of the evaluation of the representative uses of pethoxamid as a herbicide on maize and soya bean.

Modification of the existing maximum residue levels for fluxapyroxad in various crops.

In accordance with Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the evaluating Member States (EMS), the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, received an application from BASF SE to modify the existing maximum residue levels (MRLs) for the active substance fluxapyroxad in several crops in order to accommodate for proposed new uses in Europe and for the import of crops. According to EFSA, the data are sufficient to derive MRL proposals for all the crops assessed, except for citrus fruits other than oranges and grapefruits. Adequate analytical enforcement methods are available to control the residues of fluxapyroxad on the commodities under consideration, but additional validation data on herbal infusion and spices would be desirable.

Review of the existing maximum residue levels for imazalil according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, EFSA has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance imazalil. To assess the occurrence of imazalil residues in plants, processed commodities, rotational crops and livestock, EFSA considered the conclusions derived in the framework of Directive 91/414/EEC and under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, the MRLs established by the Codex Alimentarius Commission as well as the European authorisations reported by Member States (including the supporting residues data). Based on the assessment of the available data, MRL proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out.

Review of the existing maximum residue levels for paclobutrazol according to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005.

According to Article 12 of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reviewed the maximum residue levels (MRLs) currently established at European level for the pesticide active substance paclobutrazol. To assess the occurrence of paclobutrazol residues in plants, processed commodities, rotational crops and livestock, EFSA considered the conclusions derived in the framework of Directive 91/414/EEC as well as the European authorisations reported by Member States (including the supporting residues data). Based on the assessment of the available data, MRL proposals were derived and a consumer risk assessment was carried out.

ABCC2/Abcc2: a multispecific transporter with dominant excretory functions.

ABCC2/Abcc2 (MRP2/Mrp2) is expressed at major physiological barriers, such as the canalicular membrane of liver cells, kidney proximal tubule epithelial cells, enterocytes of the small and large intestine, and syncytiotrophoblast of the placenta. ABCC2/Abcc2 always localizes in the apical membranes. Although ABCC2/Abcc2 transports a variety of amphiphilic anions that belong to different classes of molecules, such as endogenous compounds (e.

Calpain as a multi-site regulator of cell cycle.

Calpain has long been implicated in the regulation of cell cycle, mostly based on studies with inhibitors that lack strict specificity toward the enzyme. Further, previous work has primarily focused on one particular point, the G(1) checkpoint, and made no attempt at dissecting the full cycle in terms of calpain action. To extend and complement these findings, we tested the effect of a specific inhibitor, PD 150606, on granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-stimulated human TF-1 cells by flow cytometry following single- and double labelling by propidium iodide and bromodeoxyuridine.

Effects of intracellular calcium on cell survival and the MAPK pathway in a human hormone-dependent leukemia cell line (TF-1).

Changes in the cytoplasmic calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) regulate a wide variety of cellular processes. Here we demonstrate that increased [Ca(2+)](i) was able to induce hormone-independent survival and proliferation, as well as to evoke apoptosis in human myelo-erythroid GM-CSF/IL-3 dependent leukemia cells (TF-1). Cellular responses induced by elevated [Ca(2+)](i) depended on the duration and amplitude of the calcium-signal.

Calcium induces cell survival and proliferation through the activation of the MAPK pathway in a human hormone-dependent leukemia cell line, TF-1.

Survival and proliferation of cells of a human myelo-erythroid CD34+ leukemia cell line (TF-1) depend on the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor or interleukin-3. Upon hormone withdrawal these cells stop proliferating and undergo apoptotic process. In this report we demonstrate that a controlled increase in [Ca2+]i induces hormone-independent survival and proliferation of TF-1 cells.