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Proposals to Amend the New Zealand (Maximum Residue Limits of Agricultural Compounds) Food Standards 2007

Background

MRLs are set out in the New Zealand (Maximum Residue Limits of Agricultural Compounds) Food Standards. The Standards are amended a number of times each year to reflect changes in the use of agricultural compounds in the production of food. The current MRL Food Standards 2007 and its amendments are on the NZFSA website at: http://www.nzfsa.govt.nz/policy-law/legislation/food-standards/index.htm

NZFSA administers the MRL Standards, but the final decision on any changes to the Standards rests with the Minister for Food Safety. Under section 11E of the Food Act, when amending or issuing the MRL Standards, the Minister must take into account the following:

• the need to protect public health

• the desirability of avoiding unnecessary restrictions on trade

• the desirability of maintaining consistency between New Zealand's food standards and those applying internationally

• New Zealand's obligations under any relevant international treaty, agreement, convention, or protocol, and, in particular, under the Australia-New Zealand Joint Food Standards Agreement

• such other matters as the Minister considers appropriate.

The proposed MRLs have been thoroughly assessed in accordance with international methodologies such as those utilised by the expert committees advising the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex). Information on the technical assessment of each proposal is included in this document and covers the following:

• rationale

• chemical information

• good agricultural practice (GAP)

• residues information

• dietary risk assessment

• toxicological / public health assessment

• international MRLs.

Possible implications for public health are considered during the toxicological and dietary risk assessments, by comparing the estimated dietary intake with a Potential Daily Exposure (food) (PDE_food) or where there is no PDE_food, by comparing it with the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI).

NZFSA has reviewed the estimated dietary exposure assessments for the applications of these proposals and has determined that the residues associated with the proposed MRLs do not present any public health and safety concerns.