Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) Database
This database contains maximum acceptable levels of pesticides and veterinary drugs in food and agricultural products. The USDA Foreign Agricultural Service funds “Starter” level of access to the database for everyone with a United States-based IP address so specialty crop producers, businesses, and exporters in the United States are able to access this information for free. Included are:
- More than 300 fruit, vegetable, pulse, and tree nut commodities, as well as more than 270 pesticides approved for use on those commodities by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- More than 425 pesticide and veterinary drug residue tolerances in major export markets for hay, feed, grains, oilseeds, poultry, eggs, meat and dairy
- Current pesticide MRLs for 50 major U.S. export markets, as well as Codex Alimentarius and the United States
In order to access the database and utilize this no-cost access for U.S.-based users, users should register here: https://go.foodchainid.com/BC-Starter. The USDA/FAS-funded Starter Plan covers specialty crop MRLs in 50 top countries/markets, as well as veterinary drugs in 36 markets. The database does not include processed food products.
Please contact ASCEadmin@usda.gov with any registration questions or issues.
Note: This database is an external site, maintained by a third party outside the U.S. Department of Agriculture system. Users are advised that international regulations and permissible maximum residue levels (MRLs) frequently change. Although the database is updated frequently, the information in it may not be completely up-to-date or error free. Additionally, commodity nomenclature and residue definitions vary among countries, and country policies regarding deferral to international standards are not always transparent. This database is intended to be an initial reference source only, and users must verify any information obtained from it with knowledgeable parties in the market of interest prior to the sale or shipment of any products.