G/SPS/N/AUS/443  
 
15 January 2018  
(18-0407) Page: 1/3 
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; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, 
where applicable): Processed foods in general  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the exte nt relevant or practicable : 
[X] All trading partners  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:  
5. Title of the notified document: Proposal M1015 – Maximum Residue Limits (2017) . 
Language(s): English.  Number of pages: 22 
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/code/proposals/Pages/M1015Maximum -Residue -Limits -
(2017).aspx  
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 (agvet) 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 agvet chemicals being considered for specified plant commodities are:  
Acetamiprid, Acetochlor, Aldicarb, Ametoctradin, Amitraz, Amitrole, Azoxystrobin, 
Benzovindiflupyr, Bitertanol, Buprofezin, Carbendazim, Carbofuran, Chlorfluazuron, 
Chlorpyrifos, Chlorpyrifos -methyl, Clofentezine, Clothianidin, Cyhalothrin, Cyprodinil, 2,4 -
DB, Dicamba, Difenoconazole, Diflubenzuron, Diflufenican, Dimethenamid -P, 
Dithiocarbamates, Dodine, Emamectin, Endothal, Etoxazole, Fenarimol, Fenbuconazole, 
Fenbutatin oxide, Fenitrothion, Fenpropathrin, Fenpyrazamine, Fenpyroximate, Fipronil, 
Florfenicol, F luazinam, Flumioxazin, Fluopyram, Fluxapyroxad, Fosetyl -aluminium, 
Imazamox, Ipconazole, Iprodione, Isofetamid, Maldison, MCPA, Mepanipyrim, Mesotrione, 
Metalaxyl, Metconazole, Methidathion, Methomyl, Metrafenone, Mevinphos, Naled, 
Oxadixyl, Oxathiapiproli n, Pebulate, Penconazole, Permethrin, Phorate, Phosmet, 
Phosphorous acid, Piperonyl butoxide, Pirimicarb, Profenofos, Propachlor, Propamocarb, 
Prothioconazole, Prothiofos, Pyraflufen -ethyl, Pyriofenone, Pyriproxyfen, Pyroxasulfone, 
Quinoxyfen, Spinetoram, Spinosad, Spirodiclofen, Spiromesifen, Spirotetramat, 
Teflubenzuron, Tetraconazole, Thiodicarb, Thiophanate -methyl, Trichlorfon, Tridemorph, 
Trifloxystrobin, and Trifluralin.  
MRLs for specified animal commodities are also being considered for:  
Aldicarb, Ch lorfluazuron, Diflufenican, Ivermectin, Levamisole, Naled and Tylosin.  G/SPS/N/AUS/443  
 
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  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 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 2011,  
 CAC/MRL 3 Extraneous Maximum Residue Limits (EMRLs) 2001,  
 and subsequent variations to relevant standards as adopt ed 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 stan dard?  
[ ] 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 1.3.1 of the assessment summary.  
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 to ensure the safety and 
quality of the fo od.  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 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  (available in English) . 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : FSANZ Board Approval anticipated 
mid-June 2018. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : Notification to Government anticipated in 
late June 2018 with gazettal and registration as a legislative instrument to follow in late 
August 2018, pending Government consideration.  
11. Proposed date of entry into f orce: [  ] 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 certa in 
anomalies between the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code and Codex or 
trading partner standards.  G/SPS/N/AUS/443  
 
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  12. Final date for comments: [X]  Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 16 March 2018  
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 5423  
Kingston ACT 2604  
Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6271 2278  
E-mail: standards.management@foodstandards.gov.au  
13. Text(s) available from: [X]  National Notification Authority, [  ] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e -mail address (if available) of other body:   
Documents are available from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website:  
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/code/proposals/Pages/M1015Maximum -Residue -Limits -
(2017).aspx  
Copies are also available from:  
The Australian SPS Notification Authority  
GPO Box 858  
Canberra ACT 2601  
Australia  
Fax: +(61 2) 6272 3678  
Email: sps.contact@agriculture.gov.au