Food and Beverages Importers Association (FBIA) Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) in Food Products Australia's border monitoring of residues in imported food Tran Tang Assistant Director Imported Food Section Compliance Division 3 January 2019

Presentation Import Controls -– Imported Food Inspection Scheme Limit (MRL) Monitoring Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) Managing failed foods Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

Import controls Biosecurity and imported food safety controls are administered by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Maximum Residue Limits in food products 3 January 2019 3

Legislation at the border The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources​ is responsible for administering the following requirements for imported food: Biosecurity Act 2015 Imported Food Control Act 1992 Imported Food Control Regulations 1993 Sets out how the IFIS works Imported Food Control Order 2001 Lists foods that are risk Protects Australia against biosecurity risks Addresses food safety & compliance with food standards Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Maximum Residue Limits in food products 3 January 2019 4

Imported food control in Australia Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

Imported Food Inspection Scheme Food Standards Australia New Zealand Monitor emerging food safety issues worldwide and locally Provide scientific assessment and advice on imported foods Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Considers and interprets FSANZ advice Minister makes Orders to classify as ‘risk food’ Implements targeted profiling of food consignments at the border Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

Imported Food Inspection Scheme IFIS – Risk based inspection Responsive risk based inspection scheme. Inspection rates based on risk to public health and safety. Food classified as either risk food or surveillance food. Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Maximum Residue Limits in food products 3 January 2019 7

Risk classified foods / hazards Beef – BSE RTE meats & pate – micro Soft cheese – micro Peanuts & pistachios – aflatoxin Sesame seeds – Salmonella Pepper, paprika, dried chilli – Salmonella Cooked RTE prawns – micro RTE finfish – L. monocytogenes Histamine susceptible fish Bivalve molluscs – micro & biotoxins Brown algae (seaweed) – Iodine Hijiki seaweed – Inorganic arsenic Cassava chips – Hydrocyanic acid Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Maximum Residue Limits in food products 3 January 2019 8

Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) Monitoring Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Maximum Residue Limits in food products 03 January 2019 9

Current foods subject to sampling for residue analysis Foods for MRL monitoring Current foods subject to sampling for residue analysis Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code Principle for MRLs If there is no MRL in the Food Standards Code for a particular food-chemical combination = No detectable residues are permitted Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Maximum Residue Limits in food products 3 January 2019 11

Chemical screen for fruit and vegetables Foods for MRL monitoring Chemical screen for fruit and vegetables Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

IFIS’s current practice The legislation states: “unless a maximum amount of a permitted residue of an agvet chemical is specified for a processed food, the same maximum amount applies to both the processed and the unprocessed food.”  Recommendation: importers consider making an application to FSANZ for an MRL for the processed product (i.e. juiced and concentrated fruit) where there is a legal use for the chemical in that food in the country from which the food is sourced. Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

IFIS’s current practice The IFIS only applies Standard 1.4.2 to food that is imported for human consumption (including when the food will undergo additional processing before final retail sale). Food not imported for sale includes food for personal use, trade samples, ship or aircraft stores. These are exempt from Standard 1.4.2. Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

Managing failed food Required to be treated (if possible), exported or destroyed Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Maximum Residue Limits in food products 03 January 2019 15

Summary of reasons for food failing inspection - all countries - 2017 Failing food Summary of reasons for food failing inspection - all countries - 2017 http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/goods/food/inspection-compliance/inspection-data Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

Failing Food Treatment This is an option not currently permitted for MRL violations. Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Maximum Residue Limits in food products 3 January 2019 17

Failing Food Export This is an option currently permitted for MRL violations. Exported food is restricted to being exported back to the country from which the food was exported to Australia. Note: In certain conditions an importer may request to export to a third country Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Maximum Residue Limits in food products 3 January 2019 18

Failing Food Destruction This is an option currently permitted for MRL violations. Subject to biosecurity requirements the food may: Be destroyed by deep burial or incineration. Seek permission for redirection to animal feed. Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Maximum Residue Limits in food products 3 January 2019 19

Options for future compliance with MRLs Harmonisation process for MRLs FSANZ has a harmonisation process for all the other foods MRLs. This allows an exporting economy to apply for an MRL that has permissions for use of an agricultural chemical on a food, where Australia does not have an MRL for that food. Importers, exporters and overseas economies may apply for harmonisation of an MRL. The harmonisation process is conducted each year and takes about 12 to 18 months. Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Maximum Residue Limits in food products 3 January 2019 20

Options for future compliance with MRLs FSANZ has commenced considering an ‘all other foods except animal food commodities’ low level MRL for selected agricultural chemicals where: Primarily these low level MRLs allow for inadvertent presence e.g. spray drift. Will not apply to veterinary chemical residues where predominant use is as a veterinary medicine. There must be a registered use of the agvet chemical in Australia. Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Maximum Residue Limits in food products 3 January 2019 21

Subscribe for updates at: https://agriculture.custhelp.com/ http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/goods/food Email: foodimp@agriculture.gov.au Thank you Subscribe for updates at: https://agriculture.custhelp.com/ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Maximum Residue Limits in food products 3 January 2019 22