ARfD – calculation according to the EFSA PRIMo model version 3.1

Since the 12th of October 2020, Groen Agro Control calculates and reports the ARfD percentage (ARfD value) for the Netherlands with the EFSA PRIMo model 3.1. The Acute Reference Dose (ARfD) is an estimate of the amount of a pesticide in food that a person can ingest within 24 hours without significant health effects. The depletion of the ARfD value is always given as a percentage of the ARfD value.

Previously, the national models were used to calculate the ARfD percentage, in the Netherlands the NESTI model. Recently, the calculation method of the ARfD percentage has been harmonized within the European Union. The calculation model within the European Union is the EFSA PRIMo model (current version 3.1). For the Netherlands, RIVM has also published a list of associated processing factors that are included in the calculation. The calculation of the ARfD with the PRIMo model with processing factors is also used when testing against the requirements of Dutch retailers. For other countries within the EU, the PRIMo model is used without the processing factors.

If you have any questions about this change in the method for the ARfD calculation, please contact your account manager or our specialists from the Pesticide residue laboratory.