G/SPS/N/AUS/323  
 
30 July 2013  
(13-4115)  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; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Processed foods in general 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners The notification relates to imported as well as domestically 
produced foods sold in Australia.  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: Assessment summary for Maximum Residue Limits 
Proposal  Language(s): English  Number of pages: 29 
6. Description of content: This Proposal seeks to amend the Australia New Zealand Food 
Standards Code  to align 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; and to align 
certain limits with Codex or trading partner standards relating to residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food. The document includes a summary of the scientific risk 
assessment and risk assessment methodology. 
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 st andard? 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 fo r Veterinary Drugs in Food 2011; 
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 
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[ ] Yes   [ ] No G/SPS/N/AUS/323 
 
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  If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard: Certain proposed limits conform to Codex limits. These are 
detailed in section 3.3.3 of the Report. 
Internationally, countries set MRLs according to good agricultural practice (GAP) 
or good veterinary practice (GVP). The sci entific methodology used by Australia to 
establish MRLs is consistent with international best practice. Agricultural and veterinary 
chemicals are used differently in different production regions as pests, diseases and 
environmental factors differ and because product use patterns may differ. This means that Australian limits for residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food may 
differ from Codex standards. Proposed limits reflect Australian GAP or, in recognition of 
residues that may occur in imported foods, harmonise with limits set by other member nations in relation to GAP. Also, there may be no corresponding Codex limit for certain proposed limits. 
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available: 
Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (available in English) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : FSANZ Board approval anticipated 
October 2013. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : Notification to Government anticipated 
November 2013 with gazettal and registration as a legislative instrument to follow in January 2014, pending Government consideration. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : Date of Gazettal and registration as a legislative instrument 
pending Government consideration (see 10. above). 
[X] Trade facilitating measure  The Proposal includes measures to address certain 
anomalies between the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code  and Codex or 
trading partner standards. This should assist in the facilitation of trade for certain 
food products. Refer section 3.3.3 and Attachment A of the Report.  
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 27 September 2013 
Agency or authority designated to hand le 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: [X] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
"http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/code/pr oposals/Pages/proposalm1009maximum5788
.aspx " 
Copies are also available from: 
The Australian SPS Notification Point 
GPO Box 858 
CANBERRA  ACT  2601 Australia 
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678 
Email: sps.contact@daff.gov.au