This guidance document supersedes the OECD (2009) Guidance Document on the Definition of Residue (Series on Pesticides No. 31 ENV/JM/MONO(2009)30). The primary goal of this document is to provide guidance for deriving residue definitions for the purposes of Maximum Residue Limit or Level (MRL)/tolerance enforcement/monitoring and for dietary risk assessment.

This guidance provides a systematic approach for deriving residue definitions in order to increase consistency across national and international systems, to promote global harmonisation of residue definitions and the associated MRLs, including MRLs on imported commodities, thereby facilitating trade.

The draft revised Guidance Document on the Definition of Residue and the supporting case study are currently undergoing a second commenting round by the WNT and the WPP and are open to public comments at the same time. Interested parties are invited to contact their National Coordinators and submit comments at least a week before 30 October 2026.  

• Draft revised Guidance Document on the Definition of Residue
• Case Study