G/SPS/N/AUS/489  
 
28 November 2019  
(19-8190) 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  (19 November 2019) . Language(s):  English . 
Number of pages:  4 
https://apvma.gov.au/sites/default/files/gazette/food -
standards/schedule_20_gazette_19112019.pdf  
6. Description of content:  This Pro posal 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 e ffective use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals:  
− 2,4-D, Bifenthrin, Glufosinate and Glufosinate ammonium, Glyphosate, Mesotrione, 
Methiocarb and Sethoxydim in specified plant commodities;  
− Mesotrione 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 th e standard:  
[X] Codex Alimentarius 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 Extrane ous 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/489  
 
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  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 stand ard: 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 veterinar y practice (GVP) applicable 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 an d veterinary chemicals 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 asses sment 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) : February 2020  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : February 2020  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [  ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : February 2020  
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [  ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 3 February 2020  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [  ] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if av ailable) of other body:   
Food Standards Australia New Zealand  
PO Box 5423  
KINGSTON ACT 2604  
Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6271 2278  
E-mail: standards.management@foodstandards.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:   
Documents are available from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines 
Authority  website:  
https://apvma.gov.au/sites/default/files/gazette/food -
standards/schedule_20_gazette_19112019.pdf  
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678    
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au