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NZFSA’s monitoring programmes for chemicals in food

Chemical monitoring programmes
Monitoring of chemicals in our diet
Legislation, Registers and Lists of chemicals, and Maximum Residue Levels
Counterfeit agricultural compounds
Selected media releases about chemical monitoring
Related links

Any chemical used to produce foods is defined as an Agricultural Compound (or agricultural chemical). This includes veterinary drugs, weed-killers, fertilisers and insecticides, both conventional and organic. They can be naturally occurring in the environment, manufactured, nutrient levels or contaminants.

In New Zealand, all agricultural compounds must be registered and shown they can be safely used. Any agricultural compound is subject to the provisions of the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997 and the New Zealand food standard for agricultural compounds.

Diagram explaining NZFSA’s role in chemical monitoring and regulation

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Chemical monitoring programmes

Dairy Residue Monitoring Programme

Animal Products Residue Monitoring Programmes

Food Residues Surveillance Programme

Research in response to consumer inquiries about chemicals in food

Monitoring of chemicals in our diet

Total Diet Survey – amounts of chemicals and contaminants in the NZ diet

Legislation, Registers and Lists of chemicals, and Maximum Residue Levels

Maximum Residue levels, registered compounds

Legislation for agricultural compounds and veterinary medicines

Counterfeit agricultural compounds

What are ‘counterfeit’ agricultural compounds?

This is a general term for pesticides and veterinary medicines (or their active ingredients) that are manufactured in plants that are not owned by, or licensed to, the chemical companies that own the rights to compounds. This is similar to when DVDs, watches and other branded products are copied. Some counterfeit agricultural compounds may be identical to the real compound, or they may have a different chemical mix.

Are counterfeit agricultural compounds a problem in New Zealand?

NZFSA is confident that use of counterfeit agricultural compounds is not widespread in New Zealand, although it is not possible to be totally certain that any alleged incident is the only case. While NZFSA has investigated and prosecuted such activities in the past, there is ample evidence that all but a few individuals meet regulatory requirements. NZFSA and industry associations take such matters extremely seriously. As soon as NZFSA becomes aware of such an issue it will initiate an investigation, involving other relevant regulatory bodies as appropriate.

NZFSA works with Customs, MAF, the Police and other government agencies in New Zealand and in overseas countries such as Australia, as well as legitimate manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and suppliers and their industry associations to ensure that the agricultural compounds registered and used in New Zealand are what they are stated to be. NZFSA has many sources of information, including horticultural and agricultural industry bodies, and investigates any suspected illegal activity. NZFSA also undertakes targeted testing of foods for pesticide residues and programmes surveys at the border.

How can I report concerns?

NZFSA encourages people who have concerns about potentially illegal activity to contact NZFSA’s Compliance and Investigation group in confidence on 0800 NZFSA1 or 0800 693 721.