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

10 Proposal to set an MRL for Spinosad

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

Compound	CAS#	Residue definition	Food	Maximum Residue Limit (mg/kg)
Spinosad	168316-95-8 (131929-60-7 + 131929-63-0)	Sum of: spinosyn A spinosyn D Expressed as: Spinosad	Tomatoes	0.01*

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

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

Compound	CAS#	Residue definition	Food	Maximum Residue Limit (mg/kg)
Spinosad	168316-95-8 (131929-60-7 + 131929-63-0)	Sum of: spinosyn A spinosyn D Expressed as: Spinosad	Tomatoes	0.05

The final entry for spinosad in Schedule One of the NZ (MRL) Food Standards 2008 will therefore read:

Compound	CAS#	Residue definition	Food	Maximum Residue Limit (mg/kg)
Spinosad	168316-95-8 (131929-60-7 + 131929-63-0)	Sum of: spinosyn A spinosyn D Expressed as: Spinosad	Citrus fruits Kiwifruit Potatoes Sheep fat Sheep kidney Sheep liver Sheep meat Stone fruits Tomatoes	0.05 0.2 0.01(*) 0.2 0.05 0.05 0.05 1 0.05

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

Amendment Rationale

The proposed MRL represents a change in good agricultural practice (GAP) for the active ingredient spinosad.

The MRL proposed for spinosad in tomatoes will allow the compound to be used closer to harvest in accordance with the specified GAP in New Zealand (see below) based on a new application method and formulation type. As spinosad is considered to be of very low toxicity, there is no risk to public health associated with consumption of tomatoes containing spinosad residues within the MRL.

Spinosad is used internationally and is considered as a ‘risk reducing’ compound relative to older chemistries. Spinosad has been specifically attributed ‘risk reducing’ status in Canada and the United States. As spinosad is naturally derived from bacteria, it has been permitted for use in organic production by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Chemical Information

Common name of compound	Spinosad
Use of compound	Insecticide
Chemical Abstract Services (CAS) Registry number	500008-45-7
Type of compound	Spinosyn
Administration method	Ground spray and dustable powder

Good Agricultural Practice

Spinosad is proposed for use as an insecticide for tomatoes. Application may be up to 7 times throughout plant growth at a rate of 10-20g per mature plant with a withholding period of 3 days.

Residues Information

Residue data for tomatoes support an MRL of 0.05mg/kg at 3 days after the last treatment. An MRL of 0.05mg/kg is therefore proposed to support GAP.

Dietary Risk Assessment

Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)

0.02mg/kg bw/day

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 spinosad 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 spinosad is equivalent to 3.5% 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 spinosad as an insecticide for use on tomatoes, according to the GAP specified above, is 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.