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

12 Proposal to exempt Hydrogen peroxide

It is proposed that an MRL exemption be set for hydrogen peroxide when used as a fungicide and bactericide treatment for fruit. It is proposed that Schedule Two of the NZ (MRL) Food Standards 2007 be amended to include the following; this will be the resulting entry for hydrogen peroxide in Schedule Two of the NZ (MRL) Food Standards 2007:

Amendment Rationale

The proposed MRL exemption represents a new use pattern for hydrogen peroxide, the rapid chemical breakdown of this compound means it is not suitable to be managed against a concentration limit, and therefore it can be exempted from the requirement of an MRL.

Chemical Information

Good Agricultural Practice

Hydrogen peroxide is proposed for use as a fungicide and bactericide for fruit crops. Application may be throughout plant growth at rates up to 700gai/ha with a withholding period of 1 day.

Residues Information

The activity of hydrogen peroxide derives from the peroxy (O-O) bond. This bond is inherently unstable which makes it very reactive. It is through oxidation that this bond can rapidly destroy the cell walls of micro organisms. Given the reactivity of the bond it can be broken through reaction with environmental molecules or natural soil organisms. UV light may also breakdown the bond. Given that the instability of the active molecule residues occurring on the surface of treated fruit would be rapidly diminished, they are very unlikely to be detectable by the time of harvest. The breakdown product of hydrogen peroxide is water. Hydrogen peroxide is approved as a processing aid for food under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code which regulates residue levels resulting from this use at the limit of 5mg/kg in the final processed food.

Dietary Risk Assessment

Whilst hydrogen peroxide may be a moderately acute toxin, given the body’s defence to prevent and control reactive oxygen species forming, it is of low toxicity in small amounts over an extended period. As residues of hydrogen peroxide are not expected on harvested fruits there is no risk of any chronic health effects from its use as an agricultural compound to good agricultural practice.

Toxicological / Public Health Assessment

It has been determined that the use of hydrogen peroxide as a fungicide and bactericide for use on fruit, according to the good agricultural practice specified above, is very unlikely to pose any health risks from consumption of the harvested commodity.

International MRLs

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