NRS Brochure - Summary of results
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2007–2008 summary of 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. The compliance rates shown in the tables are calculated as a percentage of the total number of samples complying with relevant standards.
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. In 2007–2008, total expenses for NRS were $11.537 million, out of which $0.478 million was provided by the government.
Meat products
Through random monitoring, samples of 12 meat products were tested for antibiotics, anthelmintics, hormones, growth promotants, pesticides and environmental contaminants. The largest numbers of samples came from cattle, sheep and pig. Overall compliance was 99.75 per cent.
Commodity compliant data - meat products
| Commodity | Samples | Analyses | Compliance (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camel | 15 | 355 | 100.0 |
| Cattle | 5,398 | 48,132 | 99.9 |
| Deer | 67 | 1,084 | 100.0 |
| Goat | 256 | 4,319 | 100.0 |
| Horse | 141 | 2,275 | 100.0 |
| Kangaroo | 56 | 1,129 | 98.2 |
| Pig | 2,739 | 30,238 | 99.9 |
| Poultry | 332 | 9,288 | 100.0 |
| Ratite (emu and ostrich) | 59 | 1,082 | 98.3 |
| Sheep | 5,065 | 56,959 | 99.6 |
| Wild boar | 56 | 1,129 | 100.0 |
| Total | 14,184 | 155,990 | 99.75 |
Egg
From the 75 egg samples and total of 1,025 analyses undertaken, residue testing results showed 92.00 per cent compliance with the relevant Australian Standards.
Honey
During the reporting period, 226 honey samples were subject to 1,440 analyses in all, including those for antibiotics and environmental metals. All samples conformed to Australian Standards.
Fish (wildcaught and aquaculture)
Samples from nine exported wildcaught seafood products from 13 species (112 samples and 563 analyses) were tested for persistent organic pollutants, environmental contaminants and heavy metals. Residue testing results showed 100 per cent compliance with the relevant Australian Standards.
Samples from farmed abalone and freshwater crayfish (15 samples and 143 analyses) were also tested for the above chemicals. The results showed 100 per cent compliance with Australian Standards.
Grains, pulses and oilseeds
Twenty plant commodities were sampled and tested for pesticides, fumigants, organochlorines and environmental contaminants. Overall, residue testing results showed 99.42 per cent compliance.
Commodity compliance data - grains, pulses and oilseeds
| Commodity | Samples | Analyses | Compliance (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barley | 728 | 41,550 | 99.6 |
| Sorghum | 152 | 8,107 | 99.34 |
| Wheat grain (including durum) | 1,695 | 95,598 | 99.76 |
| Wheat bran (including durum bran) | 198 | 10,724 | 99.49 |
| Wheat flour (including semolina) | 196 | 10,557 | 100.0 |
| Other cereal grains | 41 | 2,173 | 100.0 |
| Canola | 340 | 18,964 | 97.6 |
| Other oilseeds | 5 | 265 | 100.0 |
| Pulses | 80 | 4,709 | 97.5 |
| Total | 3,435 | 192,647 | 99.42 |
Horticulture
Five horticultural products were tested for pesticides, physiological modifiers and environmental contaminants. The overall compliance rate with Australian Standards was 99.76 per cent.
Commodity compliance data - horticulture
| Commodity | Samples | Analyses | Compliance (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple | 469 | 20,363 | 99.6 |
| Blueberry | 30 | 219 | 100.0 |
| Macadamia nut | 115 | 2,300 | 100.0 |
| Onion | 90 | 2,520 | 100.0 |
| Pear | 141 | 6,204 | 100.0 |
| Total | 845 | 31,606 | 99.76 |
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.
Laboratories are selected through the Australian Government tendering process on the basis of their proficiency, accreditation and value for money.
Current contracts began on 1 July 2008 and will run to 30 June 2011.
Contacts
General enquiries
Phone: +61 2 6272 5790
Fax: +61 2 6272 4023
Email the NRS
www.daff.gov.au/nrs
Postal address
National Residue Survey
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
Director, National Residue Survey
Phone: +61 2 6272 5668
Manager, animal random residue testing program
Phone: +61 2 6272 4019
Manager, plant random residue testing program
Phone: +61 2 6272 3436
Manager, labratory performance and evaluation
Phone: +61 2 6272 4771