Food Focus November 2008
Pesticide maximum residue limit database goes online
New Zealand’s fruit and vegetable growers and exporters will find complying with international trade requirements easier now that they can access vital information on maximum residue limits online
NZFSA, with support from PMAC (Plants Market Access Council), recently published its database of Pesticide Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) on its website, bringing it into the 21st century. The database is a key resource for exporters and growers wishing to gain access to international markets.
Dave Lunn, NZFSA’s Senior Programme Manager in charge of the database, says the new system “will give interested growers and exporters immediate access to the best available information and help ensure that our export produce keeps its reputation as being clean, wholesome and safe”.
The database has gone through several changes since it started 21 years ago, and with the help of PMAC it has now been given a new lease on life as an online searchable database.
Market access for fresh fruit and vegetables depends on the production of high-quality, pest- and disease-free produce, but effective pest and disease control often requires the use of pesticides to supplement other crop management strategies.
In many cases, the use of pesticides (including fungicides and herbicides) can result in the presence of residues at harvest. Most countries have established MRLs for these pesticides – not only to safeguard consumer health, but also to promote Good Agricultural Practice in the use of pesticides.
“These MRLs, or residue standards, vary from country to country depending on the pesticides available, the crops being treated, and the way the pesticides are used”, Dave says. “The purpose of the database is to provide New Zealand exporters with information on pesticide MRLs that have been established by our major trading partners. The database is therefore not a global listing of all MRLs, but it’s certainly relevant for the vast majority of New Zealand’s fruit and vegetable exporters and the 24/7 access to the information is a real bonus.”
The database includes the most recent information on MRLs established:
• for most pesticides registered in New Zealand
• by most of New Zealand’s major trading partners
• on the major fresh fruit and vegetable commodities grown in New Zealand.
The MRL online database can be accessed here