The National Residue Survey: 2006-2007 in brief
Total expenses for the NRS in 2006–2007 were $9.370 million. The Australian Government provided $0.460 million to fund the Community Service Obligation program, while participating industries provided $8.910 million through levies and contributions for the management and operation of NRS programs.
NRS carried out random residue monitoring programs for animal and plant products, with the largest numbers of samples collected from cattle, sheep, pigs and grain. During 2006–2007, NRS coordinated the collection of 18,216 samples through these programs. The overall number of samples was reduced by about 1,000 compared with 2005–2006, due to the effects of the ongoing drought in agricultural areas.
In close consultation with the relevant industries and AQIS, all animal program monitoring plans were reviewed and accepted. During this process amendments to the cattle, deer and kangaroo levies were agreed in order to ensure adequate funding for the agreed residue testing plans. The emu and buffalo industries continued suspension of their participation in NRS due to the ongoing impact of the drought on the structure of each industry.
The coordination of sampling (777 samples) and results (17,018 analyses) of six targeted monitoring, compliance testing and residue prevention projects were undertaken on behalf of the beef and sheep industries.
The overall number of participating industries increased with the introduction of four additional grain, pulse and oilseeds in the grains random monitoring program. Levy establishment submissions were submitted to the Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry by the Grains Council of Australia, and levies were successfully established in June 2007 for 13 additional grains commodities for 2007–2008. All tradeable grains will be participating in the NRS grains residue monitoring program from 1 July 2007.
Sample analysis under the new Eighth Term analytical contracts for laboratories commenced on 1 July 2006 and will continue until 30 June 2008. Pre-tender testing has commenced in preparation for the Ninth Term contracts (1 July 2008 – 30 June 2011).
The Australian wool industry again contracted NRS to undertake proficiency testing of a series of international wool residue testing laboratories. Laboratory proficiency testing services provided by NRS to the dairy industry’s Australian Milk Residue Analysis Survey will continue this year. NRS has been an accredited provider of proficiency testing services since 2005.
NRS conducted random residue monitoring projects for 11 meat products, honey, egg, three fish products, 14 grains, pulses and oilseeds, and five horticultural products. The table below summarises the results of random monitoring projects for 2006–2007. For further details and discussion of the results, please refer to the National Residue Survey Annual Report 2006–2007.
Summary of results for all random monitoring projects
| Commodity | Number of samples | Number of analyses | Number of agvet residues > Aust. Std | Number of residues in inedible tissue * | Number of environmental contaminants | Compliant samples (%)** | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Products | |||||||
| Meat |
13,819 |
183,603 |
8 |
66 |
19 |
99.81 |
|
| Honey |
92 |
1,244 |
0 |
- |
0 |
100.00 |
|
|
Egg |
75 |
1,025 |
2 |
- |
0 |
97.33 |
|
|
Fish |
103 |
643 |
0 |
- |
1 |
99.03 |
|
|
Total |
14,089 |
186,515 |
10 |
66 |
20 |
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Plant Products |
|||||||
|
Grains |
3,335 |
169,206 |
12 |
- |
0 |
99.64 |
|
|
Horticulture |
792 |
26,861 |
10 |
- |
0 |
98.74 |
|
|
Total |
4,127 |
196,067 |
22 |
- |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Total all products |
18,216 |
382,582 |
32 |
66 |
20 |
|
|
* Inedible tissues (urine and faeces) may be monitored as they can indicate the presence of certain residues. Australian Standards are not established for urine or faeces as they are inedible, and these residue detections are therefore not deemed contraventions.
** Proportion of samples conforming to relevant Australian Standards.
Detected Residues
The following residues were detected:
Edible samples: 29 samples had residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals above relevant Australian Standards. There were three further residues for which there are no Australian Standards. These detections are all deemed to be contraventions.
Inedible samples: 66 samples (urine or faeces) contained residues but none were at levels that prompted traceback investigations.
Environmental contaminants: 20 samples contained environmental contaminants (metals) with residues above Australian Standards. These detections are deemed contraventions.