. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/AUS/135
14 January 2002
(02-0168)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  AUSTRALIA
If applicable, name of local government involved:           
2. Agency responsible: Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA)
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where
applicable).  Processed foods in general.  Regions or countries likely to be affected, to
the extent relevant or practicable:  Imported (as well as domestically produced) foods
sold in Australia
4. Title and number of pages of the notified document:  Assessment Reports for Maximum
Residue Limit Application No.’s:  A447 (51 pages), A450  (31 pages), A451  (36 pages),
A440  (20 pages) and Proposal No. P241  (78 pages)
5. Description of content:  These applications seek to amend the Australia New Zealand Food
Standards Code (the  Code ) to align residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food
products so that they are consistent with othe r national regulations relating to their safe and
effective use.  In administrative terms and consistent with international practice, MRLs
assist in regulating the use of agricultural and veterinary chemical products. MRLs indicate
whether agricultural and veterinary chemical products have been used in accordance with
the registered conditions of use.  MRLs in the Code  also act both to protect public health
and public safety by ensuring that chemical residues are no higher than necessary, and as
international trading standards.
The MRLs prescribed in the Code  constitute a mandatory requirement applying to
all food products of a particular class whether produced domestically or imported.  Food
products exceeding their relevant MRL set out in the Code  cannot legally be supplied in
Australia.
These applications or proposals may contain variations to MRLs, which are not
addressed in the international Codex standard.  These MRLs may also relate to chemicalsused in the production of heavily traded agricultural commodities, which may indirectly
affect trade of derivative food products between WTO members.
6. Objective and rationale: [  X ] food safety,  [     ] animal health,  [     ] plant protection,
[ X ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease,  [  X ] protect territory from
other damage from pests           
7. An international standard, guideline or recommendation does not exist [  X ].
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:G/SPS/N/AUS/135
Page 2
8. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available: Australia Food
Standards Code;  New Zealand Food Regulations 1984, Australia New Zealand Food
Standards Code  (All available in English).
9. Proposed date of adoption:  Recommendation to Government anticipated mid 2002 with
adoption (pending Government approval) to follow.
10. Proposed date of entry into force:  No known, date of entry after  Government approval
(see 9. above).
11. Final date for comments:  28 February 2002
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [     ] National notification
authority, [     ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:           
12. Texts available from: [     ] National notification authority, [     ] National enquiry point
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:  Documents
are readily available on the Australia New Zealand Food Authority website
(www.anzfa.gov.au ).  Copies are also available from:
Australia New Zealand Food Authority
PO Box 7186Canberra BC ACT 2610
AUSTRALIA
Fax:  (+61) 2 62712278
Email:  info@anzfa.gov.au
Note:  If requesting documents please quote the Application Number(s) quoted in 4 above.