In October, the European Union has now completed the project to change the residue definition to “phosphonic acid and its salts expressed as phosphonic acid” in order to cover all entry routes of phosphonates via common maximum levels. However, it should be noted that fosetyl is no longer included in this definition. The standard value of 0.01 mg/kg, which is used for product-active substance combinations for which no specific maximum levels have been set, will also no longer apply here in future.

In in vitro micronucleus tests (according to OECD 487), the occurrence of micronuclei in interphase cells provides an indirect, but easy and rapid measurement of structural chromosomal damage (clastogenicity) and effects on the spindle apparatus (aneugenicity) in cells that have undergone cell division during or after exposure to a test substance. Micronuclei arise from chromosomal fragments or whole chromosomes, occur rarely spontaneously, but are induced by clastogenic or aneugenic agents.