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Pesticide Residue Standards (MRLs)
New Zealand Residue Standards
Both imported and domestically produced food sold in New Zealand must comply with the New Zealand (Maximum Residue Limits of Agricultural Compounds) Food Standard.
This Standard lists the MRLs for a range of pesticides and veterinary drugs, but also includes a provision for residues of up to 0.1 mg/kg for veterinary drug or pesticide/food combination not specifically listed.
In addition, the Standard recognises the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Agreement for food imported from Australia and the role of Codex Standards for imported food in general.
Under this NZ MRL Standard, pesticide and veterinary drug residues in food must:
- Comply with the specific MRLs listed in the NZ Food
Standard (including the "default MRL of 0.1 mg/kg where no specific MRL is
listed)
OR - Comply with
Codex MRLs (for imported food)
OR - Comply with the Australian Food Standards Code (Part 1.4) for food imported from Australia
Export Residue Standards
Market access for fresh fruit and vegetables depends on the production of high quality, pest and disease free produce. Effective pest and disease control often requires the use of pesticides to supplement other crop management strategies.
In many cases, the use of pesticides (including fungicides and herbicides) can result in the presence of residues at harvest. Most countries have established Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for these pesticides - not only to safeguard consumer health, but also to promote Good Agricultural Practice in the use of pesticides.
These MRLs, or residue standards, vary from country to country depending on the pesticides available, the crops being treated and the way the pesticides are used. Food exporters must comply with these MRLs as a condition of market access.
NZFSA maintains an MRL database of pesticide residue standards established by NZ's major trading partners. This database covers all pesticides registered for sale in New Zealand and includes most of the major export fruit and vegetable crops and their potential markets.
In addition, NZFSA provides an advisory service on suggested Pre-Harvest Intervals (PHIs) for common pesticides used on various export crops, such that when these are followed, residues in the crop at harvest should comply with importing country MRLs.
MRL Database
A database of selected pesticide Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) has been developed for most pesticides registered in New Zealand, on the more important crops exported from New Zealand.
The purpose of this database is to provide New Zealand Exporters with information on pesticide MRLs that have been established by major trading partners. The database is therefore not a complete listing of all MRLs, but does include the most recent data available for:
- Most Pesticides Registered in New Zealand [Access to information on pesticides that are registered in New Zealand can be found on the NZFSA ACVMG Webpage.
- Most of New Zealand's major trading partners [See the Table below].
- The major fresh fruit and vegetable commodities grown in New Zealand [Crop List]
MRL information from the database has been extracted for each country, and can be downloaded as PDF Files from the following Table. In addition, a link to a Website that contains the source documents used in the construction of the database is also included (where these have been found).
Please note however, that NZFSA cannot guarantee the accuracy of the database and users are advised to check with the appropriate authorities before using this information.
MRL listings for NZ registered pesticides on selected crops and National MRL Links:
| Country | Last Revised | Web-link |
| Australia | Feb 2005 | FSANZ Food Standards Code (Standard 1.4.2) |
| Austria | See EU1 | Legislation search engine (try ‘Höchstwerteverordnung’ in the Text Search box) |
| Belgium | See EU1 | MRL database (select ‘Consulter agréations’ then ‘Teneurs maximales') |
| Canada | Dec 2004 | PMRA Website Or Health Canada Food Programme |
| Codex | Oct 2004 | FAO - Codex MRL Database |
| Denmark | See EU1 | Sorry, no MRL Web-Link found |
| Estonia | See EU1 | MRL Legislation OR MRL Listing (English) (to 2000) |
| European Union (harmonised MRLs) |
Dec 2004 | Europa Plant Health AND Legislation OR Eur-Lex search engine (try 'pesticide residues' in Text box). |
| Finland | See EU1 | Sorry, no MRL Web-Link found |
| France | See EU1 | e-PHY database (select LMR) |
| Germany | See EU1 | ’Atlanta’ MRL database OR BMELV Legislation |
| Hong Kong | See Codex | FEHD Web-Link |
| India | Aug 2004 | Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules (page 95 ff) |
| Israel | Mar 2005 | MOAG Pesticide Data Bank |
| Italy | See EU1 | Pesticide MRL Decree OR Gazette search (limiti massimi) |
| Ireland | See EU1 |
|
| Japan | Jan 2005 | MHLW MRL Information OR JFCRF MRL Database |
| Korea | Apr 2004 | K-FDA MRL List |
| Luxembourg | See EU1 | MRL database |
| Malaysia | May 2004 | Malaysian
Food Regulations (Food Regulations 1985) |
| Netherlands | See EU1 | VWS MRL Database |
| Norway | See EU1 | Sorry, no MRL Web-Link found |
| New Zealand | Mar 2005 | Current MRL Standard |
| Portugal | See EU1 | MRL Database |
| Singapore | Aug 1997 | Singapore Legislation (AVA) (See Sale of Food Act) |
| South Africa | Dec 2002 | DOH Legislation (Regulations) OR DOA MRL Webpage (Regulatory/Quality Assurance) |
| Spain | See EU1 | MAPA MRL Database OR MCX MRL Webpage |
| Sweden | See EU1 | Food Regulations - Pesticides |
| Switzerland | Feb 2005 | Swiss MRL Ordinance |
| Taiwan | Oct 2004 | Food Sanitation Standards |
| Thailand | 1996 | DEQP Legislation (Toxic Substances) |
| United Kingdom | See EU1 | PSD MRL Webpage |
| USA | April 2005 | EPA E-CFR (Part 180) |
| Note 1 : Harmonised MRLs apply in all EU member states. However some additional national MRLs may also exist. | ||
Other Links
Links to other pesticide MRL-related Websites include:
- Australia: Links to other MRL sites
- Australia: MRL database for apples and pears
- Australia: Wine Institute MRL database
- Brazil: ANVISA Home page (try LMR in the search box)
- Freshfel Europe MRL database
- Netherlands RIKILT MRL database
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USA: FAS International MRL database - USA: FAS Export MRL-PHI database
- USA – WSU PICOL Labels & Tolerance database
- USA – NW Horticultural Council Chemicals webpage
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
68-86 Jervois Quay
PO Box 2835
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 2500
Fax: +64 4 894 2501
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