National Residue Survey

NRS monitors residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals and environmental contaminants in Australian food commodities. The cost of this monitoring is largely industry-funded through levies on the animal and plant commodities that are tested.

NRS residue monitoring facilitates Australia’s access to key export and domestic markets for participating industries by underpinning industry quality assurance programs. Also, funding from the Australian Government is used to provide advice on residues to Government and to participate in national and international food regulation committees such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission.

NRS programs include random, targeted and compliance monitoring of agricultural and veterinary chemical residues and environmental contaminants in selected animal products (meat, egg, honey and fish) and plant products (grain, oilseed and horticulture).

NRS contracts laboratories to carry out sample analysis, and is accredited to carry out proficiency testing of laboratories for both NRS projects and those of external clients.