WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/AUS/300 
23 July 2012  
 (12-4037) 
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 numbe r(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 The notification relates to imported as well as domestically 
 produced foods sold in Australia.  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:    
5. Title of the notified document:  Call for submissions for Proposal M1008  Maximum 
Residue Limits (2012).  Language(s):  English  Number of pages:  23 
6. Description of content:  The notified document is a public  consultation paper for MRL 
Proposal M1008.  This Proposal seeks to ame nd the Australia New Zealand Food Standards 
Code to align certain maximum residue li mits (MRLs) for various agricultural and 
veterinary chemicals so that they are consiste nt 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 standa rds 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 stan dard?  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 Maximu m Residue Limits (EMRLs) 2001 
and subsequent variations to relevant standards as adopted or revoked by the  Commission. G/SPS/N/AUS/300 
Page 2  
 
  [ ] 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 
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 scientific methodology used by Australia to establish 
MRLs is consistent with intern ational 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 Co dex 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) :  Notification to Government anticipated 
September 2012 with adoption (Gazettal) to fo llow, pending Governme nt consideration. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  Date of Gazettal pending Government 
consideration. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  Date of Gazettal 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 f acilitation 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) :  14 September 2012 
Agency or authority 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   G/SPS/N/AUS/300 
 Page 3 
 
 
  13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
Documents are available from the FSANZ website:  
"http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/foodstandards/ changingthecode/documentsforpublicco8
68.cfm " 
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@daff.gov.au