. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/AUS/307 
12 October 2012  
 (12-5552) 
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   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:    
5. Title of the notified document:  Proposal to Amend Standard 1.4.2 of the Australia New 
Zealand Food Standards Code  (9 October 2012 - Proposal 4P)   Language(s):  English 
Number of pages:  4 
http://www.apvma.gov.au/publications /gazette/2012/20/gazette_20121009_p28-31.pdf  
6. Description of content:  This Proposal seeks to amend the Australia New Zealand Food 
Standards Code  to align certain maximum residue lim its (MRLs) for various agricultural 
and veterinary chemicals so that they are cons istent 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 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 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 G/SPS/N/AUS/307 
Page 2  
 
  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 may differ from Codex limits. 
The scientific methodology used by Australia  to establish MRLs is consistent with 
international best practice.  Countries set MR Ls according to the good agricultural practice 
(GAP) or good veterinary practice (GVP) applicable to their region.  Agricultural and 
veterinary chemical use patte rns differ between different production regions and countries 
as pests, diseases and environmental factors va ry.  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 December 2012. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  Publication anticipated December 2012. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  Entry into force anticipated December 2012. 
[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) :  12 December 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 
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 from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines 
Authority website:  
http://www.apvma.gov.au/publications /gazette/2012/20/gazette_20121009_p28-31.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@daff.gov.au