[Updated] Australia Pesticide MRLs Updates in 2026

On July 14, 2026, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) published the Gazette No. APVMA 3, 2026, introducing significant updates to the permitted maximum residue limits (MRLs) for various agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food commodities. These changes became effective immediately upon its publication.

Notable updates to Schedule 20 include:

The newly enacted variations involve the repeal of certain existing limits and the insertion of new limits for several widely used chemicals. Key modifications include:

• Cyclobutrifluram: The MRL for “All other foods except animal food commodities” (0.05 mg/kg) has been repealed and replaced with a broader “All other foods” category set at 0.2 mg/kg. New limits were also established for fruiting vegetables (cucurbits at 0.1 mg/kg; other than cucurbits at *0.01 mg/kg).

• Metarylpicoxamid: This chemical has been newly inserted into the schedule, establishing baseline limits (0.02 mg/kg) for various mammalian and poultry edible offals, meat, eggs, and milks, as well as dry soya beans (0.01 mg/kg).

• Azoxystrobin: Limits for several leafy vegetables and spices have been restructured. Temporary limits (T70 mg/kg) were introduced for chervil, coriander seed, fennel seed, mizuna, and rucola (rocket). The limit for fennel bulb was substituted from 5 mg/kg to a temporary limit of T10 mg/kg.

• Tiafenacil: The MRL for mammalian meat was adjusted from 0.02 mg/kg to 0.05 mg/kg (in the fat), and the limit for mammalian edible offal was increased from 0.02 mg/kg to 0.1 mg/kg.

• Other Notable Updates: The MRL for cyclaniliprole in leafy vegetables (with exceptions) increased from 3 to 4 mg/kg. Cyprodinil now includes a temporary limit for barley (T3 mg/kg), and fluopyram includes new limits for ginger root (*0.01 mg/kg) and dried ginger root (0.1 mg/kg).

On April 7, 2026, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) published Gazette No. APVMA 7, detailing critical amendments to Schedule 20 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. These changes entered into force immediately upon publication.

Notable updates to Schedule 20 include:

• Clothianidin: A new temporary MRL of 0.05 mg/kg has been established for pistachio nuts.

• Fluazinam: The previous limit for potatoes (*0.01 mg/kg) has been repealed and substituted with a temporary MRL of 0.1 mg/kg.

• Ipconazole: A new limit of 0.01 mg/kg has been applied to “all other foods except animal food commodities.”

• Isocycloseram: A temporary MRL of *0.01 mg/kg has been introduced for pistachio nuts.

• Mefentrifluconazole & Pyraclostrobin: Both chemicals saw significant consolidation. Previous specific limits for various dry beans, dry peas, chickpeas, and lentils were repealed. They have been replaced by broader MRL categorizations for “Pulses [except lentil (dry)]” at 1.5 mg/kg for Mefentrifluconazole, and general “Pulses” at 1 mg/kg for Pyraclostrobin.

On March 10, 2026, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) published Gazette No. 5, formally announcing variations to the Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for agricultural and veterinary chemicals stipulated in Schedule 20 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The changes apply to Australia only and take immediate effect upon gazettal.

Notable updates to Schedule 20 include:

• Difenoconazole: The MRL for avocados has been significantly reduced from T2 mg/kg to T0.2 mg/kg. Additionally, an MRL of T0.1 mg/kg has been newly established for mangoes.

• Chlorantraniliprole: A broad update has been applied across multiple categories. For instance, the MRL for mammalian edible offal is now 0.1 mg/kg (up from 0.02 mg/kg), mammalian meat in the fat is set at 0.1 mg/kg, and milks are adjusted to 0.05 mg/kg. Unprocessed rice bran is now capped at 5 mg/kg.

• Pecan Inclusions: Several new MRLs have been introduced specifically for pecans, primarily set at trace levels (*0.01 mg/kg) for chemicals including Acetamiprid, Isocycloseram, and Pyriproxyfen. Trichlorfon on pecans is now capped at T0.1 mg/kg.

• Cyflufenamid: A new trace limit of *0.01 mg/kg has been established for wheat.