WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/AUS/232 
18 May 2009  
 (09-2427) 
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 number(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 M1003 – Maximum 
Residue Limits (April, May, June, August 2008)  Language:  English  Number of pages:   
46   
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 nati onal regulations relating 
to the safe and effective use of agricultural and 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 fo r 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 G/SPS/N/AUS/232 
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   [   ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)     
[   ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g.  ISPM N°)     
[   ] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
 [   ] Yes   [   ] No  Certain proposed limits conform to Codex limits.  These are detailed in section 9.6 
of the Report.  
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
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 differ.  This means that Aust ralian limits for residues of agricultural and 
veterinary chemicals in food may differ from Codex standards.  Proposed limits reflect 
Australian GAP or harmonize with limits set by other member nations.  Also, there may be 
no corresponding Codex limit for certain proposed limits.  
9. Other relevant documents and langu age(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 
August 2009 with adoption (gazettal) to fo llow, pending Government consideration. 
Propose 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 Governme nt consideration (see 10. above). 
[ X ] Trade facilitating measure 
Anomalies identified between the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code  and 
international standards may present barriers to trade in certain foods.  This Proposal includes certain proposed limits to address th ese 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 ):  3 July 2009 
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/232 
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  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 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 Canberrra Act 2601 Australia Fax:  +(61 2) 6272 3678    
Email:  sps.contact@daff.gov.au