Israel has updated its food safety standards to align with European Union pesticide residue regulations, specifically targeting maximum residue levels across a broad range of agricultural products including meat, dairy, vegetables, and fruits
Israel Aligns Food Safety Standards with EU Pesticide Rules
Maximum residue levels updated across meat, dairy, produce and processed foods.
What changed
Pesticide residue levels revised to match EU standards for meat, dairy, vegetables and fruit.
Product scope expanded to include preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts and other plant parts.
Minister of Health granted authority to extend pesticide residue limits in Appendix II A based on EU updates.
Standards harmonized across cereals, oils and animal fats using consistent EU thresholds.
Who it affects
Food producers and processors must ensure pesticide residues meet new EU-aligned limits across all product categories.
Importers of agricultural products must verify compliance with updated maximum residue levels for meat, dairy and produce.
Manufacturers of processed foods must now comply with expanded standards covering vegetable and fruit preparations.
Compliance Answer: Israel’s Adoption of Updated EU Pesticide Residue Maximum Levels (MRLs)
Direct Answer
Israel has aligned its food safety standards with recent European Union (EU) Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 amendments, adopting updated Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for pesticides in agricultural products (including meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables). These changes are implemented via amendments to Israel’s Public Health (Food) Protection Law, 2015, and take effect on specified dates between July 2026 and January 2027, with transitional provisions for certain products1, 2.
Regulation Analysis
1. Legal Framework
- EU Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 (hereafter "Regulation 396/2005") was adopted in Israel under the Economic Plan Law (Legislative Amendments for Implementing the Economic Policy for the 2021–2022 Budget Years), 2021, through an indirect amendment to the Public Health (Food) Protection Law, 2015 ("Food Law"). It is listed in Item 4 of Schedule 2A to the Food Law and entered into force on 1 January 20231.
- Partial Adoption: Israel did not adopt Regulation 396/2005 in full. Exclusions are detailed in Column A of Item 4, Schedule 2A, and additional exemptions apply under Section 3A(a1)–(a5) of the Food Law1.
- Implementation Mechanism: Updates to EU MRLs are incorporated into Israeli law via public notices issued by the Ministry of Health’s Food and Cosmetics Regulation Unit, published in the Reshumot (Official Gazette). The latest notice (as of July 2026) is Public Health Protection (Food) (Application of EU Regulation Amendments) (Regulation 396/2005 – Pesticide Residue MRLs) (Amendment No. 3), 20261.
2. Key Amendments and Effective Dates
The following table summarizes the EU Commission Regulations adopted in Israel, their targeted pesticides, affected products, and effective dates:
| EU Regulation | Pesticides/Substances Updated | Annexes Amended | EU Effective Date | Israel Effective Date | Key Changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/1472 | Penflufen, benfluralin, benthiavalicarb | Annexes II, V | 12 August 2026 | 12 August 2026 | – Annex II: Added MRLs for penflufen, benfluralin, benthiavalicarb in specified products. – Annex V: Added columns for benfluralin, benthiavalicarb, penflufen2. |
| Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/2152 | Dimoxystrobin, ethephon, propamocarb | Annexes II, V | 19 August 2026 | 19 August 2026 | – Annex II: Replaced columns for dimoxystrobin, ethephon, propamocarb. – Annex V: Added columns for dimoxystrobin, ethephon, propamocarb. – Transitional provision: Ethephon in apples/blackberries and propamocarb in lettuce retain prior MRLs until 19 August 20262. |
| Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/13391 | Fenpyrazamine | Annex II | 1 November 2026 | 1 November 2026 | – Annex II: Added column for fenpyrazamine in specified products (e.g., fruits, vegetables)1. |
| Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/1402 | Acequinocyl, chlormequat, metalaxyl-M, pyraclostrobin, sulfoxaflor, trifloxystrobin | Annexes II, III | 15 July 2026 | 15 July 2026 | – Annex II: Replaced columns for acequinocyl, metalaxyl-M, pyraclostrobin, sulfoxaflor, trifloxystrobin. – Annex III (Part A): Replaced column for chlormequat2. |
| Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/8401 | Copper compounds | Annexes II, III | 1 November 2026 | 1 November 2026 | – Annex II: Added column for "total copper" (replacing prior copper compound entries). – Annex III (Part A): Deleted column for copper compounds to avoid duplication1. |
| Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/8761 | Acetamiprid, aclonifen, deltamethrin, oxathiapiprolin, potassium phosphonates | Annex II | 1 November 2026 | 1 November 2026 | – Annex II: Replaced columns for acetamiprid, aclonifen, deltamethrin, oxathiapiprolin, potassium phosphonates1. |
| Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/7511 | Flupyradifurone, potassium phosphonate | Annex II | 15 July 2026 | 15 July 2026 | – Annex II: Replaced columns for flupyradifurone and potassium phosphonate1. |
| Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/13141 | 1,4-Dimethylnaphthalene, chlormequat, metribuzin, metribuzin-DADK, terbuthylazine, triclopyr | Annexes II, III, V | 6 January 2027 | 6 January 2027 | – Annex II: Replaced columns for 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, terbuthylazine, triclopyr. – Annex III (Part A): Replaced column for chlormequat. – Annex V: Added columns for metribuzin and metribuzin-DADK (MRLs set to LOQ due to EU ban)1. |
| Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/7521 | Allium fistulosum (processed), Willaertia magna lysate, magnesium hydroxide (E528), Onobrychis viciifolia (sainfoin) dried pellets, Vitis vinifera seed extract | Annex IV | 15 July 2026 | 15 July 2026 | – Annex IV: Added entries for substances exempt from MRL requirements (e.g., natural extracts, biological agents)1. |
| Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/7422 | Cyflufenamid, fenazaquin, nicotine | Annexes II, III | 15 July 2026 | 15 July 2026 | – Annex II: Replaced columns for cyflufenamid, fenazaquin. – Annex III (Part A): Replaced column for nicotine (temporary MRLs updated; e.g., tea reduced from 0.5 mg/kg to 0.4 mg/kg post-February 2026)2. |
3. Implementation Rules
A. Transitional Provisions
- General Rule: Products lawfully placed on the market before the Israel effective date may continue to be sold until stocks are exhausted, unless otherwise specified1.
- Specific Exceptions:
B. Exclusions
- The exemptions listed in Column A of Item 4, Schedule 2A to the Food Law continue to apply to the updated MRLs1.
- Annex IV Substances: Exempt from MRL requirements (e.g., Vitis vinifera seed extract, magnesium hydroxide E528)1.
C. Analytical Requirements
- "Total copper": Replaces prior copper compound entries in Annex II to improve analytical precision1.
4. Enforcement Authority
- Ministry of Health: Responsible for publishing updates via public notices and enforcing compliance1.
- Food and Cosmetics Regulation Unit: Issues transitional guidance and maintains the consolidated Hebrew version of Regulation 396/2005 on the (https://www.health.gov.il)1.
Summary Answer
Israel has adopted 10 recent EU Commission Regulations amending Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, updating MRLs for 25+ pesticides (e.g., penflufen, flupyradifurone, copper compounds) and exempting 5 natural substances from MRL requirements. These changes take effect in Israel between 15 July 2026 and 6 January 2027, with transitional provisions for specific products (e.g., ethephon in apples, nicotine in tea)1, 2. The updates are implemented via amendments to the Public Health (Food) Protection Law, 2015, with enforcement led by the Ministry of Health, while existing exemptions under Schedule 2A, Item 4 remain in force1. For the full list of affected products and MRL values, refer to the consolidated Hebrew version of Regulation 396/2005 published by the Ministry.
Sources
- ↩ WTO SPS notification 26-04334 — Israel https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/SPS/ISR/26_04334_00_x.pdf
- ↩ WTO SPS notification 26-03465 — Israel https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2026/SPS/ISR/26_03465_00_x.pdf