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Proposals to amend the New Zealand (Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds) Food Notice

About MRLs

Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) are the maximum legal levels for residues of agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines in food for sale in New Zealand. As new products and uses are registered, new MRLs are set and existing MRLs are adjusted as needed. This is done to ensure that residue levels remain as low as practicable without compromising the ability for the chemical to successfully do what is intended. MRLs are established for agricultural compounds to support good agricultural practice in New Zealand while ensuring risks associated with food safety are effectively managed.

MRLs may also be proposed to support the importation of food into New Zealand.

What are the proposed changes? 

The discussion document outlines the next round of proposed changes to the Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) for agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines for residues that may occur in food in New Zealand. It includes new and amended MRLs for 12 agricultural compounds (agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines), and one proposal for a new exemption from compliance with an MRL.

Have your say

New Zealand Food Safety is inviting public comment on the changes proposed to the food notice. When giving your feedback about a particular compound, it would be helpful if you answered these questions:

  • On balance, do you oppose any of the commodity MRLs proposed for this compound?
  • Do you oppose an MRL being set at all for this compound for the commodity?
  • If an MRL is to be set for this compound for the commodity, do you disagree with the particular level proposed? If so, why do you disagree?

Submissions close at 5pm on 11 February 2020.

Consultation document

Discussion document on the proposed MRL Food Notice [PDF, 227 KB]

Related document

WTO notification [PDF, 646 KB]

Making a submission

Email your feedback on the consultation document by 5pm on 11 February 2020 to ACVM.consultation@mpi.govt.nz

Make sure you include in your submission:

  • the title of the consultation document in the subject line of your email
  • your name and title (if applicable)
  • your organisation's name (if applicable)
  • your address
  • your answers to the questions posed under the heading 'Have your say' on this web page, for each compound you are commenting on.

While we prefer email, you can send your submission by post to:

MRL Amendments
New Zealand Food Safety
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand.

Submissions are public information

Note that your submission is public information. Submissions may be the subject of requests for information under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA specifies that information is to be made available to requesters unless there are sufficient grounds for withholding it, as set out in the OIA.

Submitters may wish to indicate grounds for withholding specific information contained in their submission, such as information being commercially sensitive or they wish personal information to be withheld. MPI will take such indications into account when determining whether or not to release the information. Any decision to withhold information requested under the OIA is reviewable by the Ombudsman.