Global Zoning and Exchangeability of Field Trial Residues Between Zones: Are There Systematic Differences in Pesticide Residues Across Geographies?

Mixed-effects models were used to evaluate the global zoning concept using residue data from a comprehensive database of supervised field trials performed in various countries and regions on a variety of pesticide–crop combinations. No statistically significant systematic differences in pesticide residues were found between zones among the pesticide uses examined. In addition, we conducted a simulation to assess the impact of using regional versus global datasets for calculating maximum residue limits (MRLs). The conclusion of this assessment supports the concept of exchangeability of pesticide residue values across geographic regions and opens the possibility of improving harmonization of pesticide regulatory standards by establishing more globally aligned MRLs. Supplemental material for this article is available online.

本研究采用混合效应模型（mixed-effects models），基于覆盖多国及地区、涵盖多种农药-作物组合的受控田间试验综合性数据库所产出的残留数据，对全球分区概念进行评估。在所考察的各类农药施用场景中，各分区的农药残留未检出统计学意义上的显著系统性差异。此外，本研究开展模拟实验，以对比评估采用区域数据集与全球数据集计算最大残留限量（maximum residue limits, MRLs）所产生的影响。本次评估的结论支持农药残留值在不同地理区域间具备可互换性的理念，并为通过建立更具全球统一性的MRLs以推动农药监管标准的协调统一开辟了可行方向。本文补充材料可在线获取。