. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/NZL/196
16 December 2002
(02-6937)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  NEW ZEALAND
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:  New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA)
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):   Specified foods containing residues of the specified agricultural compounds.
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:   All
countries exporting the specified foods contai ning residues of the specified agricultural
compounds in food in New Zealand.
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:   Proposed New Zealand
(Maximum Residue Limits of Agricultural Compounds) Food Standard 2002.  Consolidatingand updating the MRL Standard 1999 and Amendm ents;  A new Maximum Residue Limit –
a discussion document (available in English, 21 pages).
6. Description of content: .  The New Zealand (Maximum Residue Limits of Agricultural
Compounds) Food Standard 2002 consolidates th e New Zealand (Maximum Residue Limits
of Agricultural Compounds) Mandatory Food Standard 1999 and subsequent amendments
(No.1 to 7).  In addition, the proposed standa rd updates MRL Standard 1999 to reflect recent
changes in the legislative framework around food and agricultural compounds regulation, and
to correct miscellaneous inconsistencies.  The proposed standard also adds a new MRL for
Spinosad in stonefruit.
Under the New Zealand (Maximum Residue  Limits of Agricultural Compounds) Food
Standard 2002, food imported into New Zealand may comply with either:
• The limits specified in the New Zealand (Maximum Residue Limits of Agricultural
Compounds) Food Standard 2002;  or
• The appropriate Codex MRL for residues of agricultural compounds or
• A default level of 0.1 mg./kg. if the residue is not covered by the former two
requirements.
As these are trade-facilitating measures this draft SPS measure has been adopted.  However,
New Zealand will still take any comments into account and made amendments if necessary.
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 pestsG/SPS/N/NZL/196
Page 2
8. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] Office International des Epizooties,
[   ] International Plant Prot ection Convention, [ X ] None
If an international standard , guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:
10. Proposed date of adoption:  20 December 2002
11. Proposed date of entry into force: 20 December 2002
12. Final date for comments:  1 March 2003
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification
authority, [   ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (ifavailable) of other body:
Sonia Scott
New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA)
PO Box 2835
WellingtonNew Zealand
Tel: +64 4 463 2581
Fax: +64 4 463 2583
Email:  sonia.scott@nzfsa.gov.nz
13. Texts available from:  [ X ] National notification authority,  [   ]  National enquiry point,
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
Coordinator
SPS New Zealand
PO Box 2526
101-103 The Terrace
Wellington
New ZealandTel: +64 4 474 4226;
Fax: +64 4 470 2730;
E-mail: sps@maf.govt.nz
Website: www.maf.govt.nz/biosecurity/sps/transparency/notifications/index.htm