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This is the proposal of a Working Group coordinated by the IFV in which our laboratory participated: the implementation of de minimis in the analysis of pesticide residues in wine.
The presence of pesticide residues in wines has become an increasingly sensitive subject.
In addition to the controls already carried out within the framework of the certification of organic wines, new needs are emerging in the sector such as projects for a "No Residue" label and producers in the process of environmental certification.
Consumers are expecting residue-free wines, however, from an analytical point of view, there is no such thing as "0".
To date, there are no recognized and harmonized criteria for interpreting analytical results that would allow for a decision on this type of label.
Laboratories are using increasingly efficient analytical methods that enable them to reach increasingly lower Limits of Quantification (LQ) and Limits of Detection (LOD).
LQ values are often used as a substitute for the notion of "0" but they can be very heterogeneous from one laboratory to another, leading to interpretations that may differ.
The objective of this working group is to harmonize the interpretation of pesticide residues in wine.
For this, a new value has been proposed: the "minimi".
A minimi is an analytical value below which a substance would be considered absent from the product. This value is different from the limit of detection and limit of quantification relating to the analytical performance of the method and not related to a regulatory limit or toxicological value which are defined via MRLs (Maximum Residue Limits) and ADIs (Acceptable Daily Intakes).
De minimis are values based on an agreement, derived from expert and analyst results.
They have been established according to the following
