{"id":"F2015L00471","name":"Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Schedule 21 – Extraneous residue limits","slug":"australia-new-zealand-food-standards-code-schedule-21-extraneous-residue-limits","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":93095,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2015L00471-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Schedule 21 – Extraneous residue limits","content":"Schedule 21 Extraneous residue limits\n\nNote 1 This instrument is a standard under the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). The standards together make up the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. See also section 1.1.1—3.\n\nExtraneous residue limits are regulated by subsection 1.1.1—10(6) and Standard 1.4.2. This Standard identifies \\*active constituents of agvet chemicals, and their permitted residues, for the purpose of section 1.4.2—5.\n\nNote 2 This Standard applies in Australia only. In New Zealand, extraneous residue limits for agricultural compounds are set out in a Maximum Residue Limits Standard.\n\nS21—1 Name\n\nThis Standard is Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Schedule 21 – Extraneous residue limits.\n\nNote Commencement: \nThis Standard commences on 1 March 2016, being the date specified as the commencement date in notices in the Gazette under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). See also section 93 of that Act.\n\nS21—2 Interpretation\n\nIn this Schedule:\n\n(a) an asterisk (\\*) indicates that the \\*ERL is set at the limit of determination; and\n\n(b) the symbol ‘T’ indicates that the ERL is a temporary ERL; and\n\n(c) the symbol ‘E’ indicates an ERL.\n\nS21—3 Extraneous residue limits\n\nFor section 1.4.2—5, the \\*agvet chemicals, permitted residues, and amounts are as follows, expressed in mg per kg:\n\nExtraneous residue limits\n\n```html\n

Agvet chemical: Aldrin and Dieldrin

Permitted residue: Sum of HHDN and HEOD

Asparagus

E0.1

Banana

E0.05

Brassica vegetables (except Brassica leafy vegetables)

E0.1

Broccoli, Chinese

E0.01

Cereal grains (except sweet corns)

E0.02

Citrus fruits (except kumquats)

E0.05

Crustaceans

E0.1

Diadromous fish

E0.1

Edible offal (mammalian)

E0.2

Egg plant

E0.1

Eggs

E0.1

Freshwater fish

E0.1

Fruit

E0.05

Fruiting vegetables, cucurbits

E0.1

Lettuce, head

E0.1

Lettuce, leaf

E0.1

Marine fish

E0.1

Meat (mammalian) (in the fat)

E0.2

Milks (in the fat)

E0.15

Molluscs (including cephalopods)

E0.1

Onion, bulb

E0.1

Peanut

E0.05

Peppers, sweet

E0.1

Pimento, fruit

E0.1

Poultry, edible offal of

E0.2

Poultry meat (in the fat)

E0.2

Radish leaves (including radish tops)

E0.1

Root and tuber vegetables

E0.1

Sugar cane

E*0.01

\n```\n\n```html\n

Agvet chemical: BHC (other than the gamma isomer, Lindane)

Permitted residue: Sum of isomers of 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane, other than lindane

Cereal grains (except sweet corns)

E0.1

Crustaceans

E0.01

Edible offal (mammalian)

E0.3

Eggs

E0.1

Fish

E0.01

Meat (mammalian) (in the fat)

E0.3

Milks (in the fat)

E0.1

Molluscs (including cephalopods)

E0.01

Peanut

E0.1

Poultry, edible offal of

E0.3

Poultry meat (in the fat)

E0.3

Sugar cane

E0.005

\n```\n\n```html\n

Agvet chemical: Chlordane

Permitted residue: Sum of cis- and trans-chlordane and in the case of animal products also includes ‘oxychlordane’

Cereal grains (except sweet corns)

E0.02

Citrus fruits (except kumquats)

E0.02

Cotton seed oil, crude

E0.05

Cotton seed oil, edible

E0.02

Crustaceans

E0.05

Edible offal (mammalian)

E0.02

Eggs

E0.02

Fish

E0.05

Fruiting vegetables, cucurbits

E0.05

Linseed oil, crude

E0.05

Meat (mammalian) (in the fat)

E0.2

Milks (in the fat)

E0.05

Molluscs (including cephalopods)

E0.05

Pineapple

E0.02

Pome fruits

E0.02

Soya bean oil, crude

E0.05

Soya bean oil, refined

E0.02

Stone fruits

E0.02

Sugar beet

E0.1

Sweet corns

E0.02

Vegetables [except as otherwise listed under this chemical]

E0.02

\n```\n\n```html\n

Agvet chemical: DDT

Permitted residue: Sum of p,p ′-DDT; o,p ′-DDT; p,p ′-DDE and p,p ′-TDE (DDD)

Cereal grains (except sweet corns)

E0.1

Crustaceans

E1

Edible offal (mammalian)

E5

Eggs

E0.5

Fish

E1

Fruit

E1

Meat (mammalian) (in the fat)

E5

Milks (in the fat)

E1.25

Molluscs (including cephalopods)

E1

Peanut

E0.02

Poultry, edible offal of

E5

Poultry meat (in the fat)

E5

Sweet corns

E1

Vegetable oils, edible

E1

Vegetables

E1

\n```\n\n```html\n

Agvet chemical: HCB

Permitted residue: Hexachlorobenzene

Cereal grains (except sweet corns)

E0.05

Crustaceans

E0.1

Diadromous fish

E0.1

Edible offal (mammalian)

E1

Eggs

E1

Freshwater fish

E0.1

Marine fish

E0.1

Meat (mammalian) (in the fat)

E1

Milks (in the fat)

E0.5

Molluscs (including cephalopods)

E0.1

Peanut

E0.01

Poultry, edible offal of

E1

Poultry meat (in the fat)

E1

\n```\n\n```html\n

Agvet chemical: Heptachlor

Permitted residue: Sum of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide

Carrot

E0.2

Cereal grains (except sweet corns)

E0.02

Citrus fruits (except kumquats)

E0.01

Cotton seed

E0.02

Crustaceans

E0.05

Edible offal (mammalian)

E0.2

Eggs

E0.05

Fish

E0.05

Meat (mammalian) (in the fat)

E0.2

Milks (in the fat)

E0.15

Molluscs (including cephalopods)

E0.05

Peanut

E0.01

Pineapple

E0.01

Poultry, edible offal of

E0.2

Poultry meat

E0.2

Soya bean

E0.02

Soya bean oil, crude

E0.5

Soya bean oil, refined

E0.02

Sugar cane

E0.02

Sweet corns

E0.05

Tomato

E0.02

Vegetables [except as otherwise listed under this chemical]

E0.05

\n```\n\n```html\n

Agvet chemical: Lindane

Permitted residue: Lindane

Apple

E2

Cereal grains (except sweet corns)

E0.5

Cherries

E0.5

Cranberry

E3

Crustaceans

E1

Edible offal (mammalian)

E2

Eggs

E0.1

Fish

E1

Fruits [except as otherwise listed in Schedules 21 and 22]

E0.5

Grapes

E0.5

\n```\n\n| Meat (mammalian) (in the fat) | E2 |\n| -------------------------------- | ------- |\n| Milks (in the fat) | E0.2 |\n| Molluscs (including cephalopods) | E1 |\n| Oilseed [except peanut] | E0.05 |\n| Peach | E2 |\n| Peanut | E0.05 |\n| Plums (including prunes) | E0.5 |\n| Poultry, edible offal of | E0.7 |\n| Poultry meat (in the fat) | E0.7 |\n| Strawberry | E3 |\n| Sugar cane | E*0.002 |\n| Sweet corns | E2 |\n| Vegetables | E2 |\n\n\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_ \n\nAmendment History\n\nThe Amendment History provides information about each amendment to the Schedule. The information includes commencement or cessation information for relevant amendments.\n\nThese amendments are made under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 unless otherwise indicated. Amendments do not have a specific date for cessation unless indicated as such.\n\nAbout this compilation\n\nThis is compilation No. 2 of Schedule 21 as in force on 1 September 2022 (up to Amendment No. 210). It includes any commenced amendment affecting the compilation to that date.\n\nPrepared by Food Standards Australia New Zealand on 1 September 2022.\n\nUncommenced amendments or provisions ceasing to have effect\n\nTo assist stakeholders, the effect of any uncommenced amendments or provisions which will cease to have effect, may be reflected in the Schedule as shaded boxed text with the relevant commencement or cessation date. These amendments will be reflected in a compilation registered on the Federal Register of Legislation including or omitting those amendments and provided in the Amendment History once the date is passed.\n\nThe following abbreviations may be used in the table below:\n\nad = added or inserted am = amended\n\nexp = expired or ceased to have effect rep = repealed\n\nrs = repealed and substituted\n\nSchedule 21 was published in the Food Standards Gazette No. FSC96 on 10 April 2015 as part of Amendment 154 (F2015L00471 –- 1 April 2015) and has since been amended as follows:\n\n| Section affected | A’ment No. | FRL registrationGazette | Commencement(Cessation) | How affected | Description of amendment |\n| ---------------- | ---------- | ------------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Note 1 to Std | 168 | F2017L0041411 April 2017FSC11013 April 2017 | 13 April 2017 | am | Cross-reference. |\n| S21—3 | 211 | F2022L0111826 August 2022FSC1511 Sept 2022 | 1 September 2022 | am | Aldrin and Dieldrin, BHC (other than the gamma isomer, Lindane)Chlordane, DDT, HCB, Heptachlor, Lindane |","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. The Schedule has been amended since initial publication (Schedule published FSC96 10 April 2015) and S21—3 was amended by Amendment No. 211 (FRL F2022L01118, commenced 1 September 2022) to add or modify ERLs for listed chemicals (Aldrin and Dieldrin; BHC other than lindane; Chlordane; DDT; HCB; Heptachlor; Lindane), changing the set of covered chemicals and commodity-specific limits."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive commodity-by-chemical tariff: S21—3 lists many chemicals with different ERLs for dozens of specific foods (e.g. cereals, milks, fats, seafood, fruits, vegetables).","Multiple residue definitions per chemical: permitted residue can be a sum of isomers/metabolites (e.g. DDT, BHC) requiring specific analytical interpretation (S21—3 headers).","Special symbols and measurement rules: S21—2 uses *, T and E to signal limits of determination, temporary ERLs and ERLs — affects enforcement and lab reporting.","Tissue-specific entries: many limits apply to particular parts (e.g. \"in the fat\", \"edible offal\") increasing testing complexity (S21—3 rows).","Cross-references to other Code provisions and separate NZ standard: Note 1 and Note 2 tie this Schedule to section 1.4.2—5 and distinguish Australian application.","Quantitative technical standard: all values expressed in mg/kg, requiring laboratory capacity and method alignment for compliance verification (S21—3 preamble).","Amendment history and dynamic scope: the Schedule has been amended (see Amendment No. 211) so users must track revisions for current limits.","Formatting density: long tabular entries and chemical-specific permitted-residue language increase risk of misinterpretation in implementation."],"plain_english_summary":"This Schedule sets specific extraneous residue limits (ERLs) — in mg/kg — for named agricultural and veterinary chemical constituents in particular foods, for use under section 1.4.2—5 of the Food Standards Code (S21—3). It applies in Australia only (Note 2) and uses symbols (*, T, E) to record limits of determination, temporary or permanent ERLs (S21—2). It affects food businesses and regulators who must meet these commodity‑specific residue thresholds and the testing/recording that follows."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Schedule appears to maintain its original purpose as a technical reference standard setting extraneous residue limits for legacy agricultural chemicals. The excerpt shows Amendment 211 updated specific chemical limits in September 2022, but this represents routine maintenance of the scientific data rather than expansion beyond the original scope. The structure remains a straightforward lookup table for maximum residue limits."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive tabular data with chemical-specific definitions and food categories (7 agvet chemicals listed with multiple food types each)","Cross-references to other standards (Standard 1.4.2, section 1.4.2—5, subsection 1.1.1—10(6)) and the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991","Technical scientific terminology requiring chemical knowledge (isomers, epoxides, HHDN, HEOD, cis-/trans- isomers)","Conditional logic in food categorisation with explicit exceptions (e.g., 'except sweet corns', 'except Brassica leafy vegetables', 'except kumquats')","Specific residue definitions vary by chemical — some are single compounds, others are sums of multiple related compounds","Different measurement bases specified (some limits apply to whole food, others 'in the fat' specifically)","Jurisdictional limitation — applies in Australia only, with New Zealand having separate standards"],"plain_english_summary":"This law establishes extraneous residue limits (ERLs) for legacy or banned agricultural chemicals in food sold in Australia, setting maximum mg/kg levels for contaminants that persist in soil, water or the food chain. It affects farmers, food producers, importers/exporters and regulators by requiring testing and compliance.\n\nIt matters because persistent, toxic pesticides can remain in food long after use, and the limits protect consumers’ health."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/australia-new-zealand-food-standards-code-schedule-21-extraneous-residue-limits","history":"/api/acts/australia-new-zealand-food-standards-code-schedule-21-extraneous-residue-limits/history","analysis":"/api/acts/australia-new-zealand-food-standards-code-schedule-21-extraneous-residue-limits/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/australia-new-zealand-food-standards-code-schedule-21-extraneous-residue-limits/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/australia-new-zealand-food-standards-code-schedule-21-extraneous-residue-limits/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/australia-new-zealand-food-standards-code-schedule-21-extraneous-residue-limits/documents"}}