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

14 Proposal to exempt Potassium bicarbonate

It is proposed that an MRL exemption is set for potassium bicarbonate when used as a fungicide for fruit and cucurbits. 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 potassium bicarbonate in Schedule Two of the NZ (MRL) Food Standards 2007:

Amendment Rationale

The proposed MRL exemption represents a new use pattern for potassium bicarbonate. The background levels of this active ingredient, it’s very low toxicity and its addition to food during processing as a food additive mean it is not required to be managed against a chemical concentration limit. Therefore it can be exempted from the requirement of an MRL.

Chemical Information

Good Agricultural Practice

Potassium bicarbonate may be used as a contact fungicide for a variety of fruits and cucurbits. It is assigned a withholding period of 7 days.

Residues Information

Potassium bicarbonate rapidly decomposes after use to form potassium carbonate, water and carbon dioxide. These are all naturally occurring in the environment. It is not expected that levels of potassium bicarbonate resulting from treatment of fruit and cucurbits will be distinguishable form the naturally occurring levels of potassium and bicarbonate ions in the plant or environment. It is therefore proposed that potassium bicarbonate be exempted from an MRL.

Dietary Risk Assessment

Potassium bicarbonate is an approved food additive; it is recorded as very low acute toxicity. Given its natural presence in food, no average daily intake (ADI) has been assigned. Levels of potassium bicarbonate in harvested fruit and cucurbits will not exceed levels of potassium bicarbonate present in food from its use as a food additive and through the natural presence of potassium and bicarbonate ions. Therefore the use of potassium bicarbonate as a fungicide presents no dietary risk.

Toxicological / Public Health Assessment

It has been determined that the use of potassium bicarbonate as a fungicide for use on fruits and cucurbits, 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.