What are maximum residue levels?

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 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.

Have your say

This consultation includes:
•new and amended MRL entries for 34 agricultural compounds (agricultural chemicals and veterinary medicines)
•2 proposals for new or amended exceptions from compliance with an MRL
•a few other minor amendments to the Notice content.

You're invited to comment on the changes proposed to the Food Notice. For each compound for which a comment is made, answer 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?

Consultation document
•Discussion paper [PDF, 571 KB]

Making a submission

Email your feedback on the consultation document by 5pm on 30 May 2017 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
•the answers to the questions posed above for each compound you are commenting on.

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

MRL Amendments
ACVM Programmes and Appraisals
Ministry for Primary Industries
PO Box 2526
Wellington 6140
New Zealand.

Submissions are public information

Any submission you make becomes public information. Anyone can ask for copies of all submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the information available unless we have a good reason for withholding it. You can find those grounds in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA. Tell us if you think there are grounds to withhold specific information in your submission. Reasons might include, it's commercially sensitive or it's personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold information can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may require the information be released.

https://mpigovtnz.cwp.govt.nz/news-and-resources/consultations/proposal-to-amend-the-maximum-residue-levels-for-agricultural-compounds-food-notice/