Definitions and abbreviations

Definitions

Australian Standard

The Australian Standard is the maximum residue limit (MRL)/extraneous residue limit (ERL) or maximum level (ML) (as applicable) stipulated in the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Code, Standard 1.4.1 (MLs) and Standard 1.4.2 (MRLs), up to Amendment 101, 14 August 2008.

Contaminants

Contaminants include substances not intentionally added to a product, but which may be present following routine production (see ‘Maximum level’). For example, some metals and natural toxicants are contaminants. A food will contravene the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (ANZFSC) if it contains a contaminant at a concentration greater than the maximum level (ML). However, where no ML is established, the detection of contaminant is not interpreted as a contravention. Australian MLs are listed in Section 1.4.1 of the ANZFSC.

In this report, environmental contaminants are defined as undesirable metal residues that can be found in soil or water and can contaminate animals and plants.

Extraneous residue limit1

An extraneous residue limit (ERL) is defined as the maximum permitted limit of a pesticide residue, arising from environmental sources other than the use of a pesticide directly or indirectly, in or on a food, agricultural commodity or animal feed. The concentration is expressed in mg/kg (milligrams per kilogram or parts per million) of the commodity. There are ERLs for selected commodities for several organochlorine pesticides no longer in use in Australian agriculture (e.g. DDT and dieldrin).

Limit of reporting

The limit of reporting (LOR) is the minimum concentration (mg/kg) of a residue used for reporting purposes. Results of analyses lower than the LOR are not included in this report. Typically the LOR set by NRS is 10–20% of the respective maximum residue limit (MRL), extraneous residue limit (ERL) or maximum level (ML).

Maximum level

A maximum level (ML) is defined as the maximum tolerable concentration of a contaminant (e.g. metal or natural toxicant) in or on a food, agricultural commodity or animal feed. The concentration is expressed in mg/kg (milligrams per kilogram or parts per million) of the commodity.

Maximum residue limit2

The maximum residue limit (MRL) is the maximum concentration of a residue that is legally permitted, or recognised as acceptable in, or on, a food, agricultural commodity or animal feed. It results from the officially authorised safe use of an agricultural or veterinary chemical. The concentration is expressed in mg/kg (milligrams per kilogram or parts per million) of the commodity. Australian MRLs are listed in Section 1.4.2 of the ANZFSC. 

Residues

Residues include pesticides and veterinary drugs currently in use (see ‘Maximum residue limit’ [MRL]) or pesticides that are no longer registered for use (see ‘Extraneous residue limit’ [ERL]), but are known to persist in the environment (e.g. some organochlorine chemicals). Residues can also include derivatives of chemicals, conversion products, metabolites, reaction products and impurities considered to be of toxicological significance. Australian MRLs and ERLs are listed in Section 1.4.2 of the ANZFSC.

Detections of chemicals above the specified MRL or ERL contravene the ANZFSC. Also, if no MRL or ERL is listed for a chemical in the ANZFSC, there must be no detectable residue of the chemical in the product tested. Any detection at any level is deemed a contravention.

Residue action level

The residue action level is the concentration of a residue of an agricultural or veterinary chemical or contaminant in a food, agricultural commodity or animal feed above which a detection can result in action by the state or territory government regulatory authorities, including the initiation of a traceback investigation to the property where the residue-containing product originated.

Residue random monitoring projects

Projects designed to obtain a profile of the occurrence of a residue in a commodity, using a statistically defined sampling process.

¹  Based on the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code.
² Based on APVMA definition of the MRL

Abbreviations and acronyms

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