Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Schedule 21 – Extraneous residue limits

Overview

The Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth) provides the legislative framework for regulating food standards in Australia, with the aim of ensuring food safety and protecting public health. This Act was enacted by the Australian Parliament to address the need for a nationally consistent approach to food standards, ensuring that food produced and sold in Australia meets high standards of safety and quality. Schedule 21 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, which is a part of this Act, sets out the extraneous residue limits for agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals in food. This schedule was introduced to ensure that the levels of these chemicals in food do not pose a risk to human health. The extraneous residue limits are determined by Food Standards Australia New Zealand, the body responsible for developing and maintaining the food standards under this Act, with the policy objective of safeguarding public health by preventing exposure to harmful levels of extraneous residues in food. Schedule 21, which commenced on 1 March 2016, identifies the permitted levels of residues for specific agvet chemicals in various food products. The limits are expressed in milligrams per kilogram and are set to ensure that the consumption of these food products does not exceed safe levels of exposure to the chemicals. The extraneous residue limits vary depending on the type of food product and the specific agvet chemical in question. The schedule also includes interpretation notes to clarify the symbols used to indicate certain limits and to denote temporary extraneous residue limits. This legislative instrument is a standard under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991, and it applies in Australia only, with New Zealand having a separate standard for setting maximum residue limits for agricultural compounds.

Scope and Application

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Schedule 21 – Extraneous residue limits is a legislative instrument that sets out the maximum allowable levels of extraneous residues of agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals in food products, applying only within Australia. This Schedule is part of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth), which establishes the framework for food standards in both Australia and New Zealand, although New Zealand has its own standards for agricultural compounds. The standards commenced on 1 March 2016 and are subject to amendments, with the latest compilation reflecting amendments up to Amendment No. 210, effective from 1 September 2022. The Schedule details specific permitted residues for various agvet chemicals in different food products, such as fruits, vegetables, and animal products, and may include temporary limits indicated by specific symbols. This legislative instrument applies to the food industry, producers, processors, and importers within Australia to ensure food safety and compliance with residue limits. The application of these standards may also be extended or modified through subordinate instruments, as indicated in the Amendment History.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of this legislative instrument are Schedule 21, which outlines the extraneous residue limits for various agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals in food products, and the interpretation section (S21—2) which explains the symbols used to denote the residue limits. The extraneous residue limits (S21—3) detail specific agvet chemicals, their permitted residues, and the maximum allowable levels in different food products. These standards are integral to ensuring food safety and compliance with the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. This Act imposes specific obligations on parties involved in the production, processing, and distribution of food products. Manufacturers, processors, and distributors must ensure that their products comply with the extraneous residue limits outlined in Schedule 21. This includes monitoring and controlling the use of agvet chemicals to prevent exceeding the permitted residue levels. Compliance with these standards is crucial for maintaining the safety and quality of food products intended for human consumption. Breaches of the extraneous residue limits specified in this legislation can result in significant legal consequences. The Act provides for both civil and criminal penalties for non-compliance. The specific penalties can vary depending on the severity of the breach and may include fines, imprisonment, or both. For instance, knowingly supplying food that does not comply with the extraneous residue limits could lead to substantial financial penalties and potential imprisonment. It is essential for parties to adhere to these standards to avoid facing such consequences.