Australia and New Zealand each independently establishes maximum residue limits (MRLs) for agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals in food. This article discusses the MRL updates in Australia and the proposed MRL changes in New Zealand in July.
Australia
On July 25, 2023, Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority issued Gazette No. 15, which included variations to Schedule 20 Maximum Residue Limits in the Australia New Zealand Food Standard Code.
The amendment introduces 3 new agvet chemicals: Indaziflam, Inpyrfluxam and Ipflufenoquin. In total, the amendment encompasses revisions, additions, and removals of the scope and quantification related to 16 agvet chemicals.
Some examples are listed below:
Agvet chemical | Food | Maximum Residue Limit (mg/kg) |
Indaziflam (newly added) | /→Milks | /→*0.005 |
Inpyrfluxam (newly added) | /→Milks | /→*0.02 |
Ipflufenoquin (newly added) | /→Milks | /→*0.01 |
Dodine | /→All other foods except animal food commodities | /→0.1 |
Fipronil | Stone fruits [except jujube, Chinese] →Stone fruits | 0.01 |
Fluopicolide | Leafy vegetables [except broccoli, Chinese (Gai lan); witloof chicory] →Leafy vegetables | 30 |
/→Cane berries | /→T1.5 | |
Mandestrobin | Stone fruit [except jujube, Chinese]→Stone fruit | 3 |
Mesotrione | /→Oats | /→*0.01 |
Metrafenone | /→Wheat bran, processed | /→T0.3 |
Propamocarb | Chinese cabbage (Pe-tsai)→Leafy vegetables | 70 |
Proquinazid | Pome fruit [except Persimmon, Japanese]→Pome fruit | 0.3 |
Prosulfocarb | /→Oats | /→*0.01 |
Sethoxydim | Basil→/ | T1→/ |
/→Herbs | /→T1 | |
Tetraniliprole | /→Pineapple | /→T*0.01 |
Fluralaner | Sheep fat→/ | 0.35→/ |
Pyraclostrobin | Celery→/ | T8→/ |
Notes: Asterisk (*) indicates that the maximum residue limit is set at the limit of determination/ analytical quantification (the lowest level that can be reliably detected); The symbol 'T' indicates that the maximum residue limit is a temporary maximum residue limit.
New Zealand
On July 26, 2023, Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) issued Proposals to Amend the New Zealand (Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds) Food Notice. The proposal adds a new compound called Fluoxapiprolin. It also expands and updates the types of foods that can contain residues of two other compounds: Cyromazine and Fluralaner. Any comments can be submitted before September 24, 2023.
Some examples are listed below:
Compound Common Name | Food | Maximum Residue Limit (mg/kg) |
Cyromazine | Poultry meat | 0.15→0.05 |
/→Sheep milk | /→0.01 | |
Fluoxapiprolin (newly added) | /→Tomatoes | /→0.09 |
Fluralaner | /→Sheep fat | /→*0.01 |
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).
In addition to New Zealand's MRL regulations, imported food can also comply with Codex MRLs.
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