Summary of results 2008-2009

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 22 animal products including meat products, honey, egg, wild caught fish and aquaculture products, 21 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 2008–2009, total expenses for NRS were $11.950 million, out of which $0.473 million was provided by the government. More information about the National Residue Survey.

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 for meat products was 99.9%.

Results of random monitoring of meat products

Commodity	Samples	Analyses	Compliance (%)
Camel	4	105	100.0
Cattle	5 732	85 848	99.9
Deer	67	1 051	100.0
Goat	250	4 250	99.2
Horse	145	2 320	100.0
Kangaroo	55	1 095	100.0
Pig	3 302	32 713	99.9
Poultry	330	9 270	100.0
Ratites (emu and ostrich)	11	150	100.0
Sheep	5 475	58 023	99.8
Wild Boar	56	1 095	96.4
Total	15 426	195 930	99.9

Egg

From the 115 egg samples and total of 1120 analyses undertaken, residue testing results showed 98.3% compliance with the relevant Australian standards.

Honey

Fish (wild-caught and aquaculture) Samples from nine exported wild-caught seafood products from 13 species (213 samples and 991 analyses) were tested for persistent organic pollutants, environmental contaminants and heavy metals. Residue testing results showed 100% compliance with the relevant Australian Standards.

Samples from farmed abalone and freshwater crayfish (15 samples and 112 analyses) were also tested for the above chemicals. The results showed 100% compliance with Australian Standards.

Grains, pulses and oilseeds

Twenty-one plant commodities were sampled and tested for pesticides, fumigants, organochlorines and environmental contaminants. Overall, residue testing results showed 99.40% compliance.

All bulk export grain samples were 100% compliant with Australian Standards.

Results of random testing for pesticides, fumigants, organochlorines and environmental contaminants.

Commodity	Samples	Analyses	Compliance (%)
Barley	745	69 731	99.7
Sorghum	360	33 694	99.4
Wheat grain (including milled products)	2 626	245 321	99.6
Other cereal grains	64	5 898	100.0
Canola and other oilseeds	254	24 011	96.1
Pulses	113	10 892	96.4
Total	4 162	389 547	99.4

Horticulture

Five horticultural products were tested for pesticides, physiological modifiers and environmental contaminants. The overall compliance rate with Australian Standards was 100.0%.

Results of random testing for pesticides, physiological modifiers and environmental contaminants

Commodity	Samples	Analyses	Compliance (%)
Almond	64	2 807	100.0
Apple	471	21 195	100.0
Macadamia nut	204	3 465	100.0
Onion	123	4 020	100.0
Pear	136	6 120	100.0
Total	998	37 607	100.0

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 contracts began on 1 July 2008 and will run to 30 June 2011.

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, animal random residue testing program

Phone: +61 (02) 6272 4019

Manager, plant random residue testing program

Phone: +61 (02) 6272 3436

Manager, laboratory performance and evaluation

Phone: +61 (02) 6272 4771