G/SPS/N/AUS/505  
 
21 September 2020  
(20-6326) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
1. Notifying Member:  AUSTRALIA  
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible:  Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable):  Foods in general  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document:  Proposal to amend Schedule 20 of the revised Australia 
New Zealand Food Standards Code  (8 September 2020) . Language(s):  English . 
Number of pages:  4 
https://apvma.gov.au/sites/default/files/gazette/food -
standards/amendment_to_schedule_20_08092020.pdf  
6. Description of content:  This Proposal seeks to amend the Australia New Zealand Food 
Standards Code  to align the following maximum residue limits (MRLs) for various 
agricultural and veterinary chemicals so that they are consistent with other national 
regulations relating to the safe and effective use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals:  
Clothianidin, Imidacloprid, Metribuzin, Pyraflufen -ethyl and Saflufenacil in specified plant 
commodities.  
Fluralaner in specified animal commodities.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [  ] animal health, [  ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [  ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the standard:  
[X] Codex Alimenta rius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text) : 
− CAC/MRL 1 Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for Pesticides 2009  
− CAC/MRL 2 Maximum Residue Limits for Veterinary Drugs in Food 2009  
− CAC/MRL 3 Extraneous Maximum Residue Limits (EMRLs) 2001 and subsequent 
variations to relevant standards as adopted or revoked by the Commission  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number) :  
[ ] International Plant Protection  Convention (e.g.  ISPM number) :  
[ ] None  G/SPS/N/AUS/505  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?  
[ ] Yes   [X] No  
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:  Certain proposed limits may differ from Codex limits.  
The scientific methodology used by Australia to establish MRLs is consistent with 
international best practice. Countries set MRLs according to the good agricultural practice 
(GAP) or good veterinary practice (GVP) appli cable to their region.  Agricultural and 
veterinary chemical use patterns differ between different production regions and countries 
as pests, diseases and environmental factors vary.  This means that Australian MRLs for 
agricultural and veterinary chemical s in food may differ from Codex standards. Australia's 
residues assessment processes for agricultural chemicals are available at: 
https://apvma.gov.au/node/1037 . Australia's residues assessment processes for 
veterinary chemicals are available at: https://apvma.gov.au/node/719 .  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code : 
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/F2015L00468  (available in English)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Adoption anticipated November 2020.  
Proposed date of publication  (dd/mm/yy) : Publication anticipated November 2020.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : Entry into force anticipated November 2020.  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 13 November 2020  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:   
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601, Australia  
Fax: +(61) 262 723 678  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au   
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Document s are available from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines 
Authority website:  
https://apvma.gov.au/sites/default/files/gazett e/food -
standards/amendment_to_schedule_20_08092020.pdf  
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601, Australia  
Fax: +(61) 262 723 678  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au