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Proposals to Amend (No. 2) the New Zealand (Maximum Residue Limits of Agricultural Compounds) Food Standards 2008

2 Proposal to set MRLs for Clomazone

It is proposed that MRLs are set for Clomazone when used as a herbicide for brassica vegetables and carrots. It is proposed that Schedule One of the NZ (MRL) Food Standards 2008 be amended to include:

NOTE: (*) indicates that the maximum residue limit has been set at or about the limit of analytical quantification.

Amendment Rationale

The proposed MRLs represent new use patterns in New Zealand for the active ingredient clomazone. The proposed MRLs will manage the new uses of clomazone as a herbicide on brassica vegetables and carrots to the application rates and withholding periods that are approved good agricultural practice (GAP) in New Zealand (see below).

Chemical Information

Good Agricultural Practice

Clomazone is proposed for use as a herbicide for brassica vegetables and carrots. Application may be after sowing up to crop emergence, at 90-120gai/ha with a withholding period of 40 days for brassicas and 90 days for carrots.

Residues Information

Residue data for vegetable brassicas supports a limit of quantification MRL of 0.01mg/kg at 40 days after the last treatment. An MRL of 0.01mg/kg is therefore proposed to support GAP.

Residue data for carrots supports an MRL of 0.02mg/kg at 90 days after the last treatment. An MRL of 0.02mg/kg is therefore proposed to support GAP.

Animal Transfer: Brassica vegetables are considered a primary animal feed; however, given that no residues are expected in forage brassicas, residues will not be expected to accumulate in animal products. No animal commodity MRLs are therefore proposed at this time.

Dietary Risk Assessment

The potential daily exposure via food (PDE_(food))is used for dietary intake calculation where a value has been set. An appropriate acceptable daily intake (ADI) is used in the absence of a PDE_(food).

The chronic dietary exposure to clomazone is estimated by the National Estimated Dietary Intake (NEDI) calculation encompassing all registered uses of the chemical and food consumption data based upon the 1997 National Nutritional Survey for adults and the 1995 National Nutrition Survey of Australia, for children. The NEDI calculation is made in accordance with Guidelines for predicting dietary intake of pesticide residues (revised) [World Health Organization, 1997].

The NEDI for clomazone is equivalent to 0.8% of the ADI. It is therefore concluded that the chronic dietary exposure is small and the risk is acceptable.

Toxicological / Public Health Assessment

It has been determined that the use of clomazone as a herbicide for use on brassica vegetables and carrots, according to the GAP specified above, is very unlikely to pose any health risks from consumption of the harvested commodity.

Other International MRLs

To meet New Zealand’s obligations under the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures the proposed MRLs will be notified to the World Trade Organization. Any country may choose to comment if they believe the proposed MRLs represent a barrier to their trade.