. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/AUS/241 
30 November 2009  
 (09-6027) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd 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 Imported (as well as domestically produced) foods sold in 
Australia.  
[ ] Specific regions or countries:    
5. Title of the notified document:  Assessment Report for Proposal M1004 – Maximum 
Residue Limits (September-De cember 2008, January-March 2009)  Language:  English  
Number of pages:  53 
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 a nd veterinary chemicals; and to align certain 
limits with international standards relating to residues of agricultural and veterinary 
chemicals in food. 
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 2001 
 CAC/MRL 2 Maximum Residue Limits for Veterinary Drugs in Food 2008 
 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)    G/SPS/N/AUS/241 
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  [ ] 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 9.2 of the Report. 
Internationally, countries set MRLs according to good agricultural practice (GAP) or good 
veterinary practice (GVP). Agricultural and ve terinary chemicals are used differently in 
different countries as pests, diseases and envi ronmental factors differ and because product 
use patterns may differ. This means that Aust ralian limits for residues of agricultural and 
veterinary chemicals in food may differ from Codex standards. Proposed limits may reflect Australian GAP or harmonize with limits set by other member nations relating to residues 
that may occur in food imported from other nations. 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) :  Notification to Government anticipated 
March 2010 with adoption (gazettal) to follo w, pending Government 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  
 Anomalies identified between the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code  
and international standards may present barrier s to trade in certain foods. This Proposal 
includes certain proposed limits to address these issues. Refer section 9.2 of the Report.  
12. Final date for comments:  [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the notification 
and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  18 January 2010 
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/241 
 Page 3 
 
 
  13. Texts 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 St andards Australia New Zealand website: 
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/standardsdev elopment/documentsforpublicco868.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