FSANZ proposes to change maximum residue limits

The national food standards authority has issued a call for comment on changes to maximum residue limits (MRLs) for some agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food.

MRLs are the highest amount of an agricultural or veterinary chemical residue allowed to remain in food sold in Australia.

These limits are set well below the acceptable levels to protect people's health and safety in Australia.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) said requests to align around 130 chemicals with international limits set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other international food standards agencies are being considered.

FSANZ CEO Mark Booth said this includes changes requested by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority to align with revised chemical uses in Australia.

"For the first time we implemented a new process to routinely consider MRLs adopted by Codex in 2019 without the need for separate requests from stakeholders," he said.

"Aligning MRLs with international limits supports Australian food imports. MRLs can only be changed if there is no concern to public health and safety. Our dietary assessment of the requested changes found no health and safety concerns for Australian consumers."

The public call for comment closes 6 pm (AEST), 16 March.

To have your say visit the FSANZ call for comment page. For more information, click here. 

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Antonio Rodriguez