- PDF Version (121K) - Print Friendly - Help

AgVetLink December 2004

MRL update

The following MRLs were finalised as the third amendment to the food standards in early November:

• setting an MRL for Cyprodonil in grapes

• setting MRLs for the compounds Xylazine and Lignocaine in deer velvet

• setting an MRL for Permethrin in kumara.

Exemptions from MRLs were also made for the following compounds:

• Permethrin

• Fatty acids of 8 carbons or more in their chains, and their salts

• Thiopental sodium

• Iodine (organic and inorganic forms)

• Isoxsuprine (lactate)

• Medroxyprogesterone acetate

• Oestradiol-17beta and its esters or conjugates

• Etamiphylline camsylate.

The fourth and final amendment to the food standards for this year entered consultation on 7 October. Consultation was extended for all compounds in this amendment bar Tebuconazole as a result of a request from another country.*

The proposed new MRLs for Tebuconazole were not delayed because they have minimal impact on imports and are important for a certain industry sector. They are proceeding through the final legal stages of the MRL setting process.

The following proposed MRLs have been affected by the extended consultation period and are expected to be gazetted in late December:

• setting limit of detection MRLs for Emamectin Benzoate in kiwi and pome fruit

• setting MRLs for Methoxyfenozide in kiwi and pome fruit

• setting MRLs for Thiamethoxam in kiwi and pome fruit

• setting an MRL for Fludioxynil in grapes

• setting limit of detection MRLs for Milbemectin in apples and avocadoes.

The following compounds are proposed to be made exempt from MRLs:

• Dinoprost and its salts

• Salicylic Acid and its derivatives

• Dembrexine

• Zinc and its salts.

* Whenever MRLs are proposed, NZFSA also notifies the proposals internationally under the World Trade Organization Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures. The period of international consultation for the fourth MRL amendment has been extended to 60 days to be consistent with international guidelines. NZFSA is currently considering how to deal with SPS notifications in future.