Diet :: Regulating agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food – Australia

The Ministerial Council has agreed to a Policy Guideline on Regulation of Low Level Residues from Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals in Food. This Policy Guideline will be forwarded to Food Standards Australia New Zealand for considering alternative approaches to the current zero tolerance approach to the regulation of residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food.

Currently, where there is no Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) set in the Food Standards Code for residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals, a zero tolerance approach is enforced. Therefore, foods containing low levels of residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals with no MRL become illegal for sale, even if they pose no significant risk to public health. Mandatory enforcement action results in substantial imposts on industry and enforcement agencies that are not commensurate with the risks posed.


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