What has changed
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has made a variation to Schedule 20 of the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. The instrument is Variation Instrument No. APVMA 5, 2026. This variation came into force on 1 October 2026.
What Schedule 20 covers
Schedule 20 sets the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for agricultural and veterinary chemicals in food. An MRL is the highest permitted level of a chemical residue that can remain in or on a food product.
What this variation changes
The source does not specify which chemicals or food categories were changed in this variation. The full text of the changes is available on the Federal Register of Legislation at https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01345.
Key actions
- Food growers, producers, and handlers: Check the updated Schedule 20 to confirm products meet the new maximum residue limits. The full instrument is at https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2026L01345.
- Food importers: Review the updated limits to ensure imported stock complies with the standards now in force from 1 October 2026.
- Staying informed: Register at https://www.legislation.gov.au and use the 'Set up an alert' function on the instrument page to receive notifications of future changes to Schedule 20.
This is a plain-English summary for information only, not legal or compliance advice. Always check the official source or consult a qualified professional.