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

1 Proposal to set an MRL for Chloramphenicol

It is proposed that an MRL is set for chloramphenicol when occurring as a veterinary medicine in all food products. 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 chloramphenicol in Schedule One of the NZ (MRL) Food Standards 2008:

NOTE: (*) indicates that the maximum residue limit has been set at or about the limit of analytical quantification.

Amendment Rationale

The proposed MRL for chloramphenicol represents that is unacceptable for chloramphenicol to be used in veterinary medicine in New Zealand or to be detectable in any food products. This MRL will apply to all food products imported into, or produced in, New Zealand.

Chemical Information

Good Agricultural Practice

Chloramphenicol is not registered for use or used in New Zealand and is widely banned or restricted overseas. Given this status it is unacceptable that it is used for any purpose leading to residues in food in New Zealand.

Residues Information

The proposed MRL is at the limit of analytical quantification. Therefore, the MRL represents that no detectable residues of chloramphenicol should occur in any food products.

Dietary Risk Assessment

As residues of chloramphenicol are proposed to be regulated to the limit of analytical quantification in all food products, the proposal is not expected to result in any dietary risk.

Toxicological / Public Health Assessment

It has been determined that the use of chloramphenicol in the veterinary treatment of food producing animal species is unacceptable. Therefore, regulating that no detectable residues shall occur in food products will ensure that there is no risk to public health.

Other International MRLs

Note that in the European Community, a Minimum Required Performance Limit (MRPL) of 0.0003mg/kg is required for testing laboratories. This level is set at the content of an analyte which can be detected and confirmed by official laboratories in the European Union. The MRPL is set to ensure harmonised implementation of the controls to certify the absence of chloramphenicol in the consignments.

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.