NRS Brochure - Export grains program
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2007–2008 export grains program
Chemical residue monitoring results
Overview
The National Residue Survey (NRS) was originally established in 1961 to measure pesticide residues in exported meat. Today, NRS has expanded to test for residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals and environmental contaminants in 25 animal products including meat products, honey, egg, wild caught fish and aquaculture products, 20 grains, pulses and oilseeds, and five horticultural products.
NRS operates on full cost recovery, and is funded principally by levies from participating industries. The Australian Government provides funding for national and international residue commitments that provide benefits for the community, for industry and for government programmes.
The Export Grains Program
Grains have been included in NRS random residue testing activities since 1964, and are funded by levies on participating industries. The results of NRS residue tests facilitate the access of Australian grain producers to key export markets, support Australia’s status as a producer of clean food and are an important measure of overall export grain quality.
Residue monitoring is part of an Australian Government and industry strategy to minimise chemical residues and environmental contaminants in food. It also serves to identify potential problems, and indicates where follow-up action is needed. Low residue detections in food commodities are recognised as evidence of good agricultural practice.
As well as annual process reviews on the completion of each year’s sampling program (including sampling arrangements, sample numbers, chemical test selection, industry liaison), reviews of the entire grains residue testing program are undertaken regularly to ensure it continues to meet industry needs. Bulk export grains have been sampled extensively for residues since a review of the program in 1993. The most recent review (2003) recommended the development of the export container program whose results are reported here. This project is a collaboration between the Grains Council of Australia, those companies involved in grain exports and NRS. From 1 July 2007, all tradeable grains have participated in the random monitoring program.
The results table shows an overall compliance rate of 99.85 per cent with Australian Standards for export grains in 2007–2008. This result demonstrates that the Australian grains industry uses pre- and post-harvest agricultural chemicals according to good agricultural practice.
The results of the NRS residue testing program assure customers of the residue and contaminant status of Australian grains.
Sampling
Bulk export grain is sampled while the grain is being out-turned to ships at the 18 grain export terminal located throughout Australia. In most terminals, samples are taken by automatic sampling equipment using NRS protocols. NRS currently tests a sample from each hold of each ship loading bulk export grain.
In the export container project, grain samples are collected (using NRS protocols) from the sites where the grains are loaded into bags and containers for export.
The rate of sample collection is dependent on the size of commercial activities: the number of samples increases as trade volume increases. All samples are freighted to NRS-contracted laboratories for analytical testing, and sample information is sent to NRS for entry into the database. Sub-samples of the main samples are subjected to various analyses as shown in the table on the following page, as not all samples are subject to all analyses.
Pesticide Screen 2006–2008
The chemical groups listed in the following table include those that may be used on crops in Australia, as well as those that may be important in terms of international trade but are no longer used in Australian agriculture (such as organochlorines). The chemical screens are 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 Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code is traced back to its origin by relevant state and territory authorities and appropriate advisory or legal action taken.
The table below shows the numbers of samples from bulk export grains (BE) and export containers (EC) tested in the chemical screens.
|
Commodity |
Pesticide |
Herbicide |
Environmental |
Fumigant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
BE EC |
BE EC |
BE EC |
BE EC |
|
Barley |
427 111 |
37 19 |
41 13 |
6 3 |
|
Sorghum |
42 6 |
0 0 |
9 1 |
5 1 |
|
Wheat |
894 383 |
59 61 |
106 43 |
8 10 |
|
Other cereal grains |
13 6 |
0 0 |
0 1 |
0 1 |
|
Canola |
88 20 |
9 27 |
9 2 |
0 1 |
|
Pulses |
26 39 |
3 10 |
4 10 |
2 3 |
|
TOTAL |
1 490 565 |
108 117 |
169 70 |
21 19 |
Export grains residue testing results 2007–2008
The table below shows the numbers of samples tested for pesticides, fumigants and environmental contaminants.
|
Commodity |
Export Containers |
Bulk Export |
Total |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
No of Samples |
Compliance (%) |
No of Samples |
Compliance (%) |
No of Samples |
Overall Compliance (%) |
|
Barley |
111 |
99.1 |
427 |
100.0 |
538 |
99.8 |
|
Sorghum |
6 |
100.0 |
42 |
100.0 |
48 |
100.0 |
|
Wheat |
383 |
99.7 |
894 |
100.0 |
1 277 |
99.9 |
|
Other cereal grains |
6 |
100.00 |
13 |
100.0 |
19 |
100.0 |
|
Canola |
20 |
100.0 |
88 |
100.0 |
108 |
100.0 |
|
Pulses |
39 |
97.4 |
26 |
100.0 |
65 |
98.5 |
|
TOTAL |
565 |
99.47 |
1 490 |
100.0 |
2 055 |
99.85 |
Comments on export grains residue testing results 2007–2008
In the export grains program, three samples did not comply with relevant Australian Standards. These three contraventions were from the export container project and comprised detections of the fungicide triadimefon in lentil (one), the synthetic pyrethroid phenothrin in barley (one), and the herbicide simazine in wheat grain (one). The traceback investigation for lentil was inconclusive, and the other two tracebacks have not been finalised as this report goes to print. However, it is suspected that the phenothrin/barley residue was a sample contamination rather than a residue in the commodity.
All bulk export grain samples were 100% compliant with the relevant Australian Standards.
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 also having the ability to establish the technical competence of participating laboratories.
Laboratories are selected through the Australian Government tendering process on the basis of their proficiency, accreditation and value for money. Current laboratory contracts began on 1 July 2008 and will run to 30 June 2011.
Contacts
General enquiries
Phone: +61 2 6272 3187
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, plant residue testing program
Phone: +61 2 6272 3436
Director, National Residue Survey
Phone: +61 2 6272 5668