NRS Brochure - Beef program

2007–2008 beef program results
Chemical residue monitoring results  

Overview

The National Residue Survey (NRS) was originally established in 1961 following concerns about pesticide residues in exported meat. Today, NRS tests for residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals and environmental contaminants in 25 animal and 25 plant commodities including five horticultural products.

Since 1993, NRS has operated on full cost recovery, and is funded principally by levies from participating industries. The Australian Government provides funding for NRS national and international residue commitments that provide benefits for the community, for industry and for government programs.

During 2007–2008, 5,398 samples were collected from cattle and analysed for residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals and environmental contaminants.

Overall compliance with Australian Standards was 99.93 per cent. Out of the 5,398 samples tested, only two contained residues of insecticides and two had residues of metals.

Sampling

The NRS cattle residue testing program fulfils the requirements of both the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and those of international trading partners for export certification, and therefore market access. The NRS program also supports state and territory licensing of domestic processing facilities and industry quality assurance initiatives. The sampling plans are reviewed annually by NRS in close consultation with industry and AQIS before approval.

Collection rates of samples are based on production levels in Australia, or are directed by overseas market access requirements if the commodity is to be exported. NRS generates all requests for samples for residue monitoring.

Samples from cattle are taken by authorised government officers at export abattoirs and by quality control staff at domestic abattoirs. The samples are sent from collection points to a central receival and dispatch facility within NRS, where they are sorted into batches and forwarded to appropriate contract laboratories for analysis.

In the NRS random monitoring sampling plan for cattle, the allocation of samples to be taken at abattoirs is affected by the numbers of animals being slaughtered at each abattoir. The distribution of samples is designed so that the probability of an abattoir being selected for sampling is proportional to the commodity throughput of that abattoir. NRS sends sample requests to abattoirs each month, specifying the date, the class of animal, the tissue to be sampled (meat, fat, liver, kidney, urine or faeces) and the production period during which samples are to be taken. Animals for sampling are then selected at random along the slaughter chain.

Chemical screen and residue testing results 2007–2008

The purpose of the random monitoring program is to confirm the residue status of Australian beef, as specified by the maximum residue limits, extraneous residue limits and maximum levels of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (ANZFSC).

Samples are tested against an agreed chemical screen that is developed in consultation with industry. If any sample shows a positive result for a chemical, further confirmatory testing is carried out. Any sample found to contravene the ANZFSC is traced back to its origin by relevant state and territory authorities and appropriate action taken.

The chemicals listed in the following table include those that may be used in animal production in Australia, as well as those that may be important in terms of international trade. Such chemicals include persistent chemicals such as organochlorines that are no longer used in Australian agriculture.

Comments on residue testing results 2007–2008

Overall compliance from all samples was 99.93 per cent. All but two samples tested were compliant for residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals. Action was taken against one property owner, and sample contamination appeared the most likely cause of the other residue, since no evidence could be found of the chemical on the second property.

Also, there were two detections of lead residues, both from the same feedlot. Traceback investigation could not locate any obvious source of lead, and blood tests on other animals from the feedlot showed normal levels of lead.

Laboratory performance evaluation and proficiency testing

NRS contracts analytical laboratories to perform the relevant residue analyses. Laboratories are proficiency tested in order to ensure the validity of analytical results.

NRS continues to be an accredited provider of proficiency testing schemes. Accreditation ensures that the NRS proficiency testing system is recognised within the laboratory community as meeting internationally accepted standards and having the ability to establish the technical competence of participating laboratories.

International maximum residue limits

NRS maintains international maximum residue limit tables for countries that are major export markets for Australian beef.

Maximum residue limits for beef

Contacts

General enquiries
Phone: +61 2 6272 4274
Fax: +61 2 6272 4023
Email the NRS
www.daff.gov.au/nrs

Postal address
National Residue Survey
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601

Manager, animal product residue testing program
Phone: +61 2 6272 4019

Director, National Residue Survey
Phone: +61 2 6272 5668