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Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for Agricultural Compounds in Food: The Purpose and Procedure for Determining MRLs

NZFSA Public Policy Paper 16/07

December 2007

Online ISBN number 978-0-478-31171-6 ISSN number 1177-7478

Print ISBN number 978-0-478-31170-9 ISSN number 1174-961X

Important Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure the information in this report is accurate.

NZFSA does not accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever for any error of fact, omission, interpretation or opinion that may be present, however it may have occurred.

Further copies

Requests for further copies should be directed to:
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
P O Box 2835
WELLINGTON
Telephone: (04) 894-2692
Fax: (04) 894-2583

Website

A copy of this document can be found at www.nzfsa.govt.nz

Table of Contents

Table of Contents 2

1 Introduction 3

2 Background 4

2.1 What are MRLs? 4

2.2 What is the Legislative Framework? 4

3 How are MRLs set? 6

3.1 Determining the Appropriate Good Agricultural Practice 6

3.1.1 Agricultural Chemicals 6

3.1.2 Veterinary Medicines 8

4 Assessing MRL Proposals 10

4.1 Protection of Public Health 10

4.1.1 Risk Assessment 10

4.1.2 Hazard Identification and Characterisation 11

4.1.3 Exposure Assessment 12

4.1.4 Risk Characterisation 13

4.1.5 Risk Management 14

4.2 Implications for Trade 15

4.3 Consistency with International Food Standards 15

4.4 Implications for International Obligations 15

Appendix 1: Glossary of Terms 17

Relevant Agencies 17

Technical Terms 17

Appendix 2: Establishing an ADI, ADE, or PDE_(food) 19