The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) agency is accepting submissions through June 3, 2016 on a proposal to create an “all other foods” maximum residue limit for some agricultural chemicals.
FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said maximum residue limits are currently set for chemicals and specific commodities. “This has created issues for enforcement agencies and producers because low levels of chemicals permitted on one food may be accidentally found on other foods not listed in the Code,” Mr McCutcheon said. “While these levels (which can result from things like spray drift) don’t represent a public health and safety concern, the presence of chemicals means the food cannot legally be sold,” he explained. “FSANZ is consulting on an approach involving limits being set for some chemicals for all other foods except animal commodities. Some chemicals would be excluded because of high toxicity.” The all other foods limit would be established on a case-by-case basis and dietary exposure assessments will be undertaken for the whole population to ensure public health and safety. All FSANZ decisions on standards are notified to ministers responsible for food regulation. The ministers can decide to adopt, amend, or reject standards or they can ask for a review. (To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)
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