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Proposals to Amend the New Zealand (Maximum Residue Limits of Agricultural Compounds) Food Standards 2008

4 Proposal to set an MRL for Fenitrothion

It is proposed that an MRL is set for fenitrothion when used as an insecticide for cereals. It is proposed that Schedule One of the NZ (MRL) Food Standards 2008 be amended by deleting the following MRL:

As a replacement for the deleted cereals MRL, it is proposed that Schedule One of the NZ (MRL) Food Standards 2008 be amended to include the following, this will be the resulting entry for fenitrothion in Schedule One of the NZ (MRL) Food Standards 2008:

Amendment Rationale

The proposed MRLs represent a reassessment of the residue data available for fenitrothion. With the current good agricultural practice it is not expected that residues will exceed 0.5mg/kg, thus the MRL is proposed to be reduced to better represent good agricultural practice.

Chemical Information

Good Agricultural Practice

Fenitrothion is an organophosphate insecticide that is approved for army caterpillar control on cereals and various pests of fodder crops. Crops are not to be grazed or harvested for 14 days after treatment.

Residues Information

Previously residues have been managed against an MRL of 10mg/kg for cereal grains; this was on the basis of post-harvest control of pests in stored grain. This use is no longer registered, as a result of this NZFSA has reassessed the current MRL and is proposing a decrease in the MRL to 0.5mg/kg to manage residues solely from pre-harvest use.

Animal Transfer

No residues are expected in any animal tissue following consumption of treated forage crops, grain or pasture

Dietary Risk Assessment

The potential daily exposure via food (PDE_(food)) is used for dietary intake calculation where a value has been set. An appropriate acceptable daily intake (ADI) is used in the absence of a PDE_(food).

The chronic dietary exposure to fenitrothion is estimated by the National Estimated Dietary Intake (NEDI) calculation encompassing all registered uses of the chemical and food consumption data based upon the 1997 National Nutritional Survey for adults and the 1995 National Nutrition Survey of Australia, for children. The NEDI calculation is made in accordance with Guidelines for predicting dietary intake of pesticide residues (revised) [World Health Organisation, 1997].

The NEDI for fenitrothion is equivalent to 20.5% of the ADI. It is therefore concluded that the chronic dietary exposure is small and the risk is acceptable.

Toxicological / Public Health Assessment

It has been determined that the use of fenitrothion as an insecticide for use on cereals grains, according to the good agricultural practice specified above, remains very unlikely to pose any health risks from consumption of the harvested commodity.

Other International MRLs

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