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).
New applications and proposals
FSANZ has completed an administrative assessment and accepted the following application. An opportunity to comment will be available at a later date, which will be publicly notified.
General procedure
Date accepted: 6 October 2026
Call for requests - 2026 Maximum residue limit harmonisation proposal [Australia only]
The call for requests for the 2026 Maximum residue limit (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) Friday 29 January 2027.
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 (10) business days. Please contact us if you do not receive an acknowledgement.
For information about progress on all current applications and proposals, including anticipated consultation opportunities, see the Food Standards Work Plan.
Previous Notification Circulars and Gazettes are available on the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) website.