Australia and New Zealand each independently establishes maximum residue limits (MRLs) for agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals in food. In September 2023, Australia published the 2023 Instrument for MRL Standards, replacing the 2019 version. New Zealand proposes to amend 5 compounds, including fenpyrazamine, fenpyroximate, fluxapyroxad, mefentrifluconazole and sulfoxaflor.
Australia
On September 29, 2023, Australian Government published Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (MRL Standard for Residues of Chemical Products) Instrument 2023, replacing Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code (MRL Standard) Instrument 2019. This new instrument came into effect immediately.
The sole purpose of the 2023 Instrument is to implement the recent legislative changes in the Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992 (the Admin Act). The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) now is entitled to new powers under section 7A of the Admin Act to approve standards for residues of chemical products and not merely publish such standards. In addition, the standards approved for residues of chemical products under the 2023 Instrument are identical to the standards previously provided for by the 2019 Instrument.
New Zealand
On September 24, 2023, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) issued Proposals to amend the New Zealand (Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds) Food Notice. These proposals primarily focus on five compounds, including fenpyrazamine, fenpyroximate, fluxapyroxad, mefentrifluconazole and sulfoxaflor. Any comments can be submitted before November 13, 2023.
Detailed changes are listed in the table below:
Compound Common Name | Food | Maximum Residue Limit (mg/kg) |
Fenpyrazamine | Grapes | 3→0.05 |
Fenpyroximate | /→Avocado | /→0.15 |
Fluxapyroxad | Barley grain /→Oat grain /→Rye grain /→Triticale grain Wheat grain | 0.3→0.9 /→0.9 /→0.15 /→0.15 0.1→0.15 |
Mefentrifluconazole | Barley grain /→Oat grain /→Rye grain /→Triticale grain | 2→3 /→3 /→0.5 /→0.5 |
Sulfoxaflor | /→Eggs Mammalian kidney Mammalian liver /→Mammalian offal /→Poultry fat /→Poultry meat /→Poultry offal | /→0.01(*) 0.1 0.2 /→0.2 /→0.01(*) /→0.01(*) /→0.03 |
Notes: Asterisk (*) indicates that the maximum residue level is set at the limit of determination/analytical quantification (the lowest level that can be reliably detected).
We provide full-scale global food market entry services (including product registration, ingredient review, regulatory consultation, customized training, market research, branding strategy). Please contact us to discuss how we can help you by 
