G/SPS/N/AUS/378  
 
18 December 2015  
(15-6747)  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): 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 (15 December 2015 - Proposed amendment (Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Instrument No. 4 (MRL Standard)  
Amendment Instrument 2015 (No. 11)))  Language(s): English  Number of pages: 5 
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 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  n u m b e r  o f  C o d e x  
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 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 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 G/SPS/N/AUS/378 
 
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  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) 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 and veterinary chemical s 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.a u/Series/F2008B00619  (available in English) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : Adoption anticipated March 2016. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : Publication anticipated March 2016. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : Entry into force anticipated March 2016. 
[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) : 29 February 2016 
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 5423 KINGSTON  ACT  2604 
Australia 
Fax: +(61 2) 6271 2278 E-mail: standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au 
13. Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notifi cation Authority, [X] 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:  
http://apvma.gov.au/sites/default/files/gazette/food-standards/gazette-15122015-
page-42-46.pdf  
The Australian SPS Notification Point 
GPO Box 858 Canberra  ACT  2601 
Australia 
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678 E-mail: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au