Question On Notice No. 3437 asked in the Legislative Council on 24 September 2015 by Hon Lynn Maclaren
Question Directed to the: Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Parliament: 39 Session: 1
Question
(1) Will the Minister table the 2009 and 2011 Western Australian Food Monitoring Program and National Residue Survey results and chemical analysis report undertaken by the Chemistry Centre referred to in question on notice No. 3304, asked on 11 August 2015?
(2) If no to (1), why not?
(3) Will the Minister give details of action taken in 2009 and 2011 following the results of the department's survey and Chemistry Centre Analysis?
(4) Given Endosulfan was listed on Annexe A of the Stockholm Convention for elimination in June 2011, what action did the department take to investigate the source of Endosulfan residues in Western Australian food?
(5) What action has the department taken to ensure that food grown in Western Australia does not contain residues of Endosulfan and other persistent organic pollutants?
(6) Has food containing residues of Endosulfan been consumed by the Western Australian public?
(7) If yes to (6), will the Minister provide details?
(8) Which local government authorities were involved in the Western Australian Food Monitoring Program in 2009 and 2011?
(9) Which Local Governments Authorities were involved in the National Residue Surveys in 2009 and 2011?
(10) Will the Minister provide details of action the department has taken in response to this evidence of non-compliance with the Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code?
(11) Is the department concerned about the residues of Chlorpyrifos found in Western Australian food, given its toxicity and risks to human health?
(12) If no to (11), why not?
(13) What action will the department take to protect the Western Australian public from exposure to Chlorpyrifos in Western Australian grown food?
(14) Has any food grown in Western Australia containing an exceedance of maximum residue limits for Endosulfan been exported to other countries?
(15) If yes to (14), with the Minister table details?
Answered on 17 November 2015
(1) No.
(2) The National Residue Survey results are managed by the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, and are available from their website at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/food/nrs.
Survey results from the Western Australian (WA) Food Monitoring Survey contain confidential information about the food businesses where the fruit and vegetables analysed were purchased. The Food Act 2008 (the Act) Section 143 only provides provisions for publication of the names of offenders in instances where a person has been convicted in Court for an offence under the Act.
For future pesticide residue surveys undertaken by the Department of Health (DoH), a summary report will be prepared and made publically available, in line with the recommendations of the Auditor General's Report.
(3) Where the DoH has become aware of pesticide residues in foods in exceedance of the Maximum Residue limits (MRLs) outlined in the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (the Code), it has notified the relevant Local Government of the results for follow up action. The Local Government is then responsible for investigating the compliance issue with the retailer. Where possible, further assessment is undertaken to trace the produce in question back to the supplier/farm. At the farm level, if unsafe chemical residues are found on a property the Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) has powers to take appropriate action.
(4) Endosulfan was detected in samples of brown onions, lettuce and English spinach during the 2009 survey. In response the DoH notified the relevant enforcement agency of the results for follow up action. Endosulfan was not detected when the survey was repeated in 2011.
(5) The DoH works with Local Government, DAFWA, the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and industry organisations to ensure test results that exceed accepted pesticide residue levels are appropriately followed up by the relevant agencies, to identify the risks and that appropriate corrective actions to be taken.
(6-7) Please refer to (4).
(8) Albany, Bunbury, Cambridge, Capel, Carnarvon, Cockburn, Donnybrook-Balingup, Fremantle, Geraldton, Kalamunda, Katanning, Kwinana, Mandurah, Melville, Murray, Nedlands, Perth, Stirling, Subiaco, Swan, Victoria Park, Vincent and Wanneroo.
(9) Local Government is not involved in the National Residue Survey. This is an industry funded Commonwealth survey by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
(10) The DoH will report on the fruit and vegetable pesticide residue monitoring survey results by 2016, which will include any follow up actions taken.
(11) Yes, exceedances are based on assessment of test results against MRLs prescribed in the Code for agricultural and veterinary chemical residues present in food. MRLs are regulatory standards that help monitor whether an agricultural or veterinary chemical has been used as directed on an approved label and are set well below the level that would be harmful. If an MRL is exceeded it usually indicates a misuse of the chemical but is unlikely to pose a health risk. An exceedance of an MRL is however, a non-compliance with the Code.
(12) Not applicable.
(13) The DoH will work with Local Government, DAFWA, the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and industry organisations to ensure test results that exceed accepted pesticide residue levels are appropriately followed up by the relevant agencies, and use the findings to identify risks and inform appropriate corrective actions.
(14) Not to the knowledge of the DoH. The export of fruit and vegetable products is regulated by the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
(15) Not applicable.