Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Xenophon for his second supplementary question. It is worth going back to what I said earlier to the Senate, which was that a review is underway. The APVMA is reviewing the use of this particular chemical in the agvet area. The APVMA is considering the removal of a number of maximum residue limits—that is, MRLs—for carbendazim from the Food Standards Code.

But it is important to allow the process to run. They do have to consult with the industry. They do have to include risk assessment by FSANZ, which is the food regulator, and until that occurs there is a suspension of the product in Australia. FSANZ, on the other hand, has not raised human health concerns for imported product. But in respect of our domestic market, our domestic processors are heavily reliant on imported concentrate as the domestic market simply cannot meet its demand. The APVMA and FSANZ— (Time expired)