G/SPS/N/AUS/340  
 
18 June 2014   
(14-3522) 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 specifie d 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 r egions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: Proposal to Amend Standard 1.4.2 of the Australia 
New Zealand Food Standards Code (3 June 2014 - Proposed amendment ( Agricultural 
and Veterinary Chemicals Code Instrument No. 4 (MRL Standard)  Amend ment 
Instrument 2014 (No. 6)))   Language(s): English   Number of pages: 3 
http://www.apvma.gov.au/publications/gazette/2014/11/gazette_20140603_p13 -15.pdf  
6. Description of content: This Proposal seeks to amend the Australia New Zealand Food 
Standards Code to align certain 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.  
7. Objective and rationale: [X]  food safety, [ ]  animal health, [ ]  plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ]  protect territory from 
other dam age from pests.   
8. Is there a relevant international standard? If so, identify the 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 Extraneous Maximum Residue Limits (EMRLs) 2001 and 
subsequent variations to relevant standards as adopted or revoked by the 
Commission  
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OI E) (e.g.  Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM number)    
[ ] None  
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[ ] Yes   [X] No  G/SPS/N/AUS/340  
 
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  If no, descri be, 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 s et MRLs according to the good agricultural 
practice (GAP) or good veterinary practice (GVP) applicable to their region.  Agricultural 
and veterinary chemical use patterns differ between different production regions and 
countries as pests, diseases and envi ronmental factors vary. This means that Australian 
MRLs for agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food may differ from Codex standards.  
9. Other relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: 
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code:  
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Series/F2008B00619  (available in English)  
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Adoption anticipated August 2014.  
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : Publicati on anticipated August 2014.  
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ]  Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : Entry into force anticipated August 2014.  
[X] Trade facilitating measure  The proposal will establish or increase Australian 
MRLs for certain commodity/chemical combinations which should assist in 
facilitation of trade for certain foods.  
12. Final date for comments: [ ]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 11 August 2014  
Agency or authorit y designated to handle comments: [X]  National Notification 
Authority, [ ]  National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
Food Standards  Australia New Zealand  
PO Box 7186 
Canberra BC  ACT  2610  
Australia  
Fax: + (61 2) 6271 2278  
E-mail: standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au  
13. Texts available from: [ ]  National Notification Authority, [X]  National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Documents are available fro m the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines 
Authority website:  
http://www.apvma.gov.au/publications/gazette/2014/11/gazette_20140603_p13 -15.pdf  
Copies are also available from:  
The Australian SPS Notification Point  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra  ACT  2601  
Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678  
E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au