Lentil exports to Europe in trouble

A big trade issue has surfaced involving the European Union, lentils and glyphosate residue. A shipment of organic lentils from Turkey has exceeded the EU’s tolerance for glyphosate residue. This issue is now limiting lentil trade between North American and Europe. Glyphosate is registered for pre-harvest use on lentils, but Europe has the ridiculously low tolerance of 0.1 parts per million for glyphosate residue on lentils, whether conventional or organic. Why there would be any glyphosate on organic lentils is another question, but O.1 ppm is a very low level. By comparison, Europe’s Maximum Residue Limit for peas is 100 times higher at 10 ppm. They allow 50 ppm of glyphosate on mushrooms. Here in North America, the MRL for glyphosate on lentils is 5 ppm in the U.S. and 4 ppm in Canada. That’s 50 and 40 times what is allowed in Europe. Most Canadian lentil crops never see a glyphosate application, but any that do are unlikely to pass the 0.1 MRL. The Canadian and American lentils industries are working together to address the trade challenge. Pulse Canada and the U.S. Dry Pea and Lentil Council will hold meetings across Europe this week to discuss the issue with European buyers. They’re also submitting data to EU authorities to request a new import tolerance. North American lentil trade to Europe exceeded $110 million in value last year.

I’m Kevin Hursh.

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