FDA refuses to allow higher fungicide levels in orange juice

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has turned down a request by Brazilian juice producers to raise the permissible levels of the fungicide carbendazim in orange juice, a decision that could halt Brazilian imports into the US.

The FDA has banned the use of carbendazim greater than 10 parts per billion (ppb) in all citrus juices. However, the fungicide is commonly used in Brazil to control black spot, a type of mould that grows on orange trees.

Last month, the FDA detained nine shipments of orange juice from Brazil and Canada after finding traces of the fungicide.

Following the detention, Brazil asked the FDA to increase the permitted levels of carbendazim for frozen concentrated juice, as the concentrate is diluted before drinking and would not exceed the limit in drinkable juice.

Brazil sought time from the FDA until June 2013 to eliminate carbendazim from its juice, as the orange juice shipments from the country may not be free of residues for another 18 months.

In response, the FDA said that it will continue to test all forms of orange juice imports, including concentrate, juice from concentrate, and not from concentrate (NFC), and will detain juice containing more than the permitted levels of the fungicide.

The health regulator also noted that although the limits will have an economic impact on the country, making an exception only for Brazil would provide an unfair advantage over producers who have taken the necessary steps and incurred costs to comply with FDA standards.

Brazil is the primary source of orange juice imported into the US, with annual exports amounting to 15 million gallons of concentrate. Nearly two-thirds of the Brazilian orange juice shipments to the US are in not-from-concentrate, ready-to-drink form.

The EU, where more than 60% of Brazilian orange juice is shipped, allows 200 ppb of carbendazim in juices.

The FDA started testing for the fungicide in January after Coca-Cola alerted the agency about low levels of fungicides in its orange juice and that of its competitors.

Image: The FDA said that increasing the permitted levels of carbendazim for Brazilian juice producers will provide an unfair advantage over those who have taken steps to ensure regulatory compliance. Photo: USFDA