Apple and pear program 2008-2009

Overview

The National Residue Survey (NRS) was originally established in 1961 to measure pesticide residues in exported meat. Today, NRS tests for residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals and environmental contaminants in 22 animal and 26 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.

In 1997, the Australian apple and pear industry undertook a pilot monitoring program to obtain baseline data on residues, using joint industry and Australian government funding. A specific NRS levy was implemented in 1998 to fund an ongoing apple and pear residue testing program. Since 1999, 4 650 apple and pear samples have been collected and analysed for horticultural chemical residues, and the overall compliance rate with Australian standards during this time has been 99.05%.

During 2008–2009, 607 apple and pear samples were collected from packing sheds and central markets.

Sampling

Samples are collected according to NRS protocols and procedures either directly from packing sheds, or from central markets by third party samplers. These may be personnel from relevant state departments of agriculture or the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. Samples may also be collected by accredited fruit and vegetable samplers located at city markets, or by NRS staff. Each 3 kg sample of apples or pears is selected at random from the produce of a specific grower.

The origin of the samples and the numbers collected are proportional to the level of production in each state. These are shown in the table below. For example, the large numbers of samples from Victoria reflects the 40% of apples and about 80% of Australian pears that are grown there.

Apple and pear samples collected from the different states

State	Apples		Pears
	Third party	Packing sheds	Third party	packing sheds
Victoria	108	75	55	68
Tasmania	14	40	0	0
New South Wales	66	59	1	0
Western Australia	16	20	3	6
South Australia	23	10	3	0
Queensland	24	16	0	0
Total	251	220	62	74

Pesticide screen and results

The chemicals listed in the following table include those that may be used in orchards in Australia, as well as those that may be important in terms of international trade, such as persistent organochlorine insecticides that are no longer used in Australian agriculture. This chemical screen was developed in consultation with industry to be used for the three years from 2008–2011.

Chemical screening results

Group	Chemicals	Number of samples		Compliance (%)
		Apples	Pears	Apples	Pears
Pesticides	Acaricides	471	136	100.0	100.0
	Bendizimadoles	471	136	100.0	100.0
	Carbamates	471	136	100.0	100.0
	Organochlorines	471	136	100.0	100.0
	Organophosphates	471	136	100.0	100.0
	Synthetic pyrethroids	471	136	100.0	100.0
Fungicides	Foliar	471	136	100.0	100.0
	Post-harvest	471	136	100.0	100.0
Herbicides		471	136
Physiological modifier	Scald inhibitor	471	136	100.0	100.0
Total		471	136	100.0	100.0

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 Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code is referred to the relevant jurisdiction for trace back investigation under its control of use legislation.

Yearly breakdown of total samples collected and compliance percentage

Year	Samples	Compliance (%)
1990-2000	317	99.4
2000-2001	332	98.8
2001-2002	306	97.4
2002-2003	231	100.0
2003-2004	285	99.7
2004-2005	292	99.7
2005-2006	318	100.0
2006-2007	546	98.2
2007-2008	610	99.7
2008-2009	607	100.0

In 2008–2009, all 607 samples of apples and pears were 100.0% 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 having the ability to establish the technical competence of participating laboratories.

International maximum residue limits

In consultation with Apple & Pear Australia Ltd, NRS has maintained its international maximum residue limit tables for countries that are major export markets for Australian apples and pears. These tables can be found on the NRS website and on www.apal.org.au.

Contacts

General enquiries

Phone: +61 (02) 6272 5790
Fax: +61 (02) 6272 4023
Email: National Residue Survey

Postal address:
National Residue Survey
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601
Australia

Director, National Residue Survey

Phone: +61 (02) 6272 5668

Manager, plant random residue testing program

Phone: +61 (02) 6272 3436