Global citrus industry collaboration on MRL regulatory issues

A significant number of citrus producers depend on exports as a critical part of their export marketingprograms. Conversely, citrus fruits are not domestically produced in countries that represent a significantportion of the global population, so in those countries, citrus fruits must be imported. As a result, global tradeof citrus fruits has become a high priority for citrus producers and consumers. While the demand for citrus fruits may be great, no fruit can be exported unless it meets the pesticide residueregulatory standards of the importing country. As the global citrus trade has become more important,there has been a steady increase in the regulation of pesticide residues on traded citrus commodities. Withincreasing global demand for citrus fruits and greater regulation, the need for more pesticide maximumresidue levels (MRLs) for citrus has never been greater. This workshop will explore the possibility that citrus producers around the globe could work collaborativelyto advocate for more citrus MRLs and for global regulatory policies that benefit citrus producers and trade. The goal of the workshop is to generate coordinated activity among citrus industry leaders to facilitate moreglobal citrus trade. An overview of technical and regulatory issues under consideration within the Codex Committee on PesticideResidues and report on the outcome of the Global Minor Use Summit will be presented. Within the discussions in this workshop we hope to identify common pesticide-related problems of citrusexporters and country-specific leaders willing to advocate for change in regulatory policies. Problems andsolutions could be regional or global in nature. Citrus growers, trade association leaders, exporters andpackers are encouraged to attend this organizational meeting.