Notification Circular - 360-25

Published

This Notification Circular includes notices that are required to be given to the public, submitters and appropriate government agencies, under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (FSANZ Act).

For information about progress on all current applications and proposals, including anticipated consultation opportunities, see the FSANZ Food Standards Work Plan.

Previous Notification Circulars and Gazettes are available on the FSANZ website.

FSANZ Board Outcome 

The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) Board held a meeting on 17 September 2025 to discuss and decide on standards matters. The meeting communique is now available. 

Approval - Food Ministers' Meeting notification

FSANZ has approved variations arising from the following application and proposal on 17 September 2025. FSANZ has notified this approval to the Food Ministers’ Meeting:

Once FSANZ has notified the Food Ministers’ Meeting of its decision, they have 60 days to either request FSANZ to review the approved standard or inform FSANZ that it does not intend to request a review. Further information on the process is available from the FSANZ website: The Food Ministers' Meeting.

Call for requests 

2025 Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) harmonisation proposal [Australia only]

The call for requests for the 2025 MRL harmonisation proposal is now open.

The FSANZ MRL harmonisation proposal allows stakeholders to request harmonisation of MRLs in Schedule 20, with established international standards. This includes MRLs adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) or by the authorised regulatory authority in the country where a food commodity is cultivated or grown.

MRL Guidance document and request template update

Guidance material to assist with the preparation of MRL harmonisation requests is available on the FSANZ website and through the Guide to submitting requests for MRL harmonisation proposals (4th edition, June 2023). FSANZ requests that the MRL and associated information is provided in the harmonisation request template. 

A reminder to stakeholders that in 2020, FSANZ began aligning with Codex MRLs adopted at the annual CAC meeting. Stakeholders are no longer required to submit harmonisation requests for a Codex MRL adopted since the 2019 CAC meeting. Requests for harmonisation with Codex MRLs that were adopted prior to 2019 will still need to be submitted. 

FSANZ also advises that if an alignment to an MRL is to be requested and there is an existing and higher Codex MRL for the same chemical/commodity combination, then stakeholders should request to align with the Codex MRL.

Requests must be lodged with FSANZ by 6pm (Canberra time) Wednesday 25 December 2025. 

Completed MRL harmonisation requests or queries can be sent to MRL.Contact@foodstandards.gov.au.

The FSANZ MRL Team will acknowledge all requests received via email within ten business days. Please contact us if you do not receive an acknowledgement.