FOOD MINISTERS PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, SUPPORT INNOVATION.

(Full text of a statement. Contact details below.)

CANBERRA, Oct 25/Medianet International-AsiaNet/- The ninth meeting of the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council was held in Sydney today, chaired by Christopher Pyne, Parliamentary Secretary to the Australian Government Minister for Health and Ageing.

The Ministerial Council comprises Ministers responsible for food issues in Australia and New Zealand. At the meeting today, the Ministerial Council considered a number of policy and food standards issues, several of which are still in train and will be reported on after the next meeting of the Ministerial Council in May 2007. Matter considered today included:

Policy Guideline for the Regulation of residues of agricultural and

veterinary chemicals in food

The Ministerial Council has agreed to a Policy Guideline on Regulation of Low Level Residues from Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals in Food. This Policy Guideline will be forwarded to Food Standards Australia New Zealand for considering alternative approaches to the current zero tolerance approach to the regulation of residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food.

Currently, where there is no Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) set in the Food Standards Code for residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals, a zero tolerance approach is enforced. Therefore, foods containing low levels of residues of agricultural and veterinary chemicals with no MRL become illegal for sale, even if they pose no significant risk to public health. Mandatory enforcement action results in substantial imposts on industry and enforcement agencies that are not commensurate with the risks posed.