Schedule 22 Foods and classes of foods

Note 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.

 This Standard describes foods and classes of foods for subsection 1.4.1—2(2), subsection 1.4.2—3(4), subsection 1.5.3—3(2), subsection 1.5.3—4(3), paragraph S5—4(2)(b), section S19—4 and section S19—5, and portions of food for subsection 1.4.2—3(2).

Note 2 The provisions of the Code that apply in New Zealand are incorporated in, or adopted under, the Food Act 2014 (NZ). See also section 1.1.1—3.

S22—1 Name

  This Standard is Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code – Schedule 22 – Foods and classes of foods.

 Note Commencement:
This Standard commences on 1 March 2016, being the date specified as the commencement date in notices in the Gazette and the New Zealand Gazette under section 92 of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand Act 1991 (Cth). See also section 93 of that Act.

S22—2 Foods and classes of foods

(1) Section S22—4 describes the foods that are classed as animal food commodities.

(2) Section S22—5 describes the foods that are classed as crop commodities.

(3) Section S22—6 describes the foods that are classed as derived edible commodities of plant origin.

(4) Section S22—7 describes the foods that are classed as secondary commodities of plant origin.

(5) Section S22—8 describes the foods that are classed as secondary commodities of animal origin.

S22—3 Portion of a commodity to which an MRL and an ERL apply

(1)  Subject to subsection (2), the portion of a food commodity that is specified for the purposes of paragraph 1.4.2—3(2)(a) is the portion as specified by a provision of this Standard.

(2) If Schedules 19, 20 or 21 specify a portion of a food commodity for purposes of paragraph 1.4.2—3(2)(a), that portion is the portion specified for the purposes of that paragraph.

Note Paragraph 1.4.2—3(2)(a) provides that, when calculating the amount of a permitted residue in a food, the amount to calculate is the amount of that residue that is in the portion of the commodity that is specified in Schedule 22.

Example Bananas are classified by Schedule 22 as Assorted tropical and sub-tropical fruits - inedible peel. Subsection S22—5(5) and (8) provide that, for bananas, the portion specified for the purposes of paragraph 1.4.2—3(2)(a) is ‘the whole commodity after removal of any central stem and peduncle’. Schedule 20 may set an MRL for ‘Bananas [Pulp]’. In this case, subsection S22—3(2). would provide that the portion specified for the purposes of paragraph 1.4.2—3(2)(a) is the pulp.

S22—4 Animal Food Commodities

Mammalian products

Meat (mammalian)

Meats are the muscular tissues, including adhering fatty tissues such as intramuscular, intermuscular and subcutaneous fat from animal carcasses or cuts of these as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution. Meat (mammalian) includes farmed and game meat. The cuts offered may include bones, connective tissues and tendons as well as nerves and lymph nodes. It does not include edible offal. The entire commodity except bones may be consumed.

Commodities: Buffalo meat; Camel meat; Cattle meat; Deer meat; Donkey meat; Goat meat; Hare meat; Horse meat; Kangaroo meat; Pig meat; Possum meat; Rabbit meat; Sheep meat; Wallaby meat.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity (without bones). When the commodity description is qualified by (in the fat) a proportion of adhering fat is analysed and the MRLs apply to the fat.

Edible offal (mammalian)

Edible offal is the edible tissues and organs other than muscles and animal fat from slaughtered animals as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution. Edible offal includes brain, heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, spleen, thymus, tongue and tripe. The entire commodity may be consumed.

Commodities: Buffalo, edible offal of; Cattle, edible offal of; Camel, edible offal of; Deer, edible offal of; Donkey, edible offal of; Goat, edible offal of; Hare, edible offal of; Horse, edible offal of; Kangaroo, edible offal of; Pig, edible offal of; Possum, edible offal of; Rabbit, edible offal of; Sheep, edible offal of; Wallaby, edible offal of.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

Fats (mammalian)

Mammalian fats, excluding milk fats are derived from the fatty tissues of animals (not processed). The entire commodity may be consumed.

Commodities: Buffalo fat; Camel fat; Cattle fat; Goat fat; Horse fat; Pig fat; Rabbit fat; Sheep fat.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

Milks

Milks are the mammary secretions of various species of lactating herbivorous ruminant animals.

Commodities: Buffalo milk; Camel milk; Cattle milk; Goat milk; Sheep milk. The entire commodity may be consumed.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity. When an *MRL for cattle milk or milks is qualified by ‘(in the fat)’ the compound is regarded as fat-soluble, and the MRL and *ERL apply to the fat portion of the milk. In the case of a derived or a manufactured milk product with a fat content of 2% or more, the MRL also applies to the fat portion. For a milk product with fat content less than 2%, the MRL applied should be 1/50 that specified for ‘milk (in the fat)’, and should apply to the whole product.

Poultry

Poultry meat

Poultry meats are the muscular tissues, including adhering fat and skin, from poultry carcasses as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution. The entire product may be consumed. Poultry meat includes farmed and game poultry.

Commodities: Chicken meat; Duck meat; Emu meat; Goose meat; Guinea-fowl meat; Ostrich meat; Partridge meat; Pheasant meat; Pigeon meat; Quail meat; Turkey meat.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity (without bones). When the commodity description is qualified by (in the fat) a proportion of adhering fat is analysed and the *MRLs apply to the fat.

Poultry, edible offal

Poultry edible offal is the edible tissues and organs, other than poultry meat and poultry fat, as prepared for wholesale or retail distribution and include liver, gizzard, heart, skin. The entire product may be consumed.

Commodities: Chicken, edible offal of; Duck, edible offal of; Emu, edible offal of; Goose, edible offal of; Ostrich, edible offal of; Turkey, edible offal of.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

Note that poultry meat includes any attached skin, but poultry skin on its own (not attached) is considered as ‘poultry edible offal’.

Poultry fats

Poultry fats are derived from the fatty tissues of poultry (not processed). The entire product may be consumed.

Commodities: Chicken fat; Duck fat; Goose fat; Turkey fat.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

Eggs

Eggs are the reproductive bodies laid by female birds, especially domestic fowl. The edible portion includes egg yolk and egg white after removal of the shell.

Commodities: Chicken eggs; Duck eggs; Goose eggs; Quail eggs.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole egg whites and yolks combined after removal of shell.

Fish, crustaceans and molluscs

Fish includes freshwater fish, diadromous fish and marine fish.

Diadromous fish

Diadromous fish include species which migrate from the sea to brackish and/or fresh water and in the opposite direction. Some species are domesticated and do not migrate. The fleshy parts of the animals and, to a lesser extent, roe and milt are consumed.

Commodities: Barramundi; Salmon species; Trout species; Eel species.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity including bones and head (in general after removing the digestive tract).

Freshwater fish

Freshwater fish include a variety of species which remain lifelong, including the spawning period, in fresh water. Several species of freshwater fish are domesticated and bred in fish farms. The fleshy parts of the animals and, to a lesser extent, roe and milt are consumed.

Commodities: a variety of species.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity including bones and head (in general after removing the digestive tract).

Marine fish

Marine fish generally live in open seas and are almost exclusively wild species. The fleshy parts of the animals and, to a lesser extent, roe and milt are consumed.

Commodities: a variety of species.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity including bones and head (in general after removing the digestive tract).

Molluscs – and other marine invertebrates

Molluscs includes Cephalopods and Coelenterates. Cephalopods and Coelenterates are various species of aquatic animals, wild or cultivated, which have an inedible outer or inner shell (invertebrates). A few species of cultivated edible land snails are included in this group. The edible aquatic molluscs live mainly in brackish water or in the sea.

Commodities: Abalone; Clams; Cockles; Cuttlefish; Mussels; Octopus; Oysters; Scallops; Sea-cucumbers; Sea urchins; Snails, edible; Squids.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity after removal of shell.

Crustaceans

Crustaceans include various species of aquatic animals, wild and cultivated, which have an inedible chitinous outer shell. A small number of species live in fresh water, but most species live in brackish water and/or in the sea.

Crustaceans are largely prepared for wholesale and retail distribution after catching by cooking or parboiling and deep freezing.

Commodities: Crabs; Crayfish; Lobsters; Prawns; Shrimps.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity or the meat without the outer shell, as prepared for wholesale and retail distribution.

Honey and other miscellaneous primary food commodities of animal origin

Honey

Commodity: Honey.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity. 

Native bee honey

Commodity: Native bee honey.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity

S22—5 Crop commodities

 (1) The table to subsection (7) describes the classes, groups and subgroups for plant foods.

 (2) Unless the table to subsection (7) expressly provides otherwise,

 (a) each class of food listed in column 2 of that table includes each of the food groups listed in the corresponding row or rows of column 3 of the table; and

 (b) each food group listed in column 3 of that table includes each of the subgroups of foods listed in the corresponding row or rows of column 4 of the table; and

 (c)  each group and subgroup of foods listed in Column 3 and 4 of that table respectively includes:

 (i) the commodities listed in the corresponding row or rows of Column 5 of that table for that group or subgroup; and

 (ii) any other commodity listed in the 49th Report or the 50th Report for that group or subgroup.

 (3) Subject to subsection (2), a class, group and subgroup listed at:

 (a) item 1 of the table has the same meaning as in Appendix IX of the 49th Report; and

 (b)  item 2 of the table has the same meaning as in Appendix VIII of the 49th Report; and

 (c)  item 3 of the table has the same meaning as in Appendix XI of the 49th Report; and

 (d) item 4 of the table has the same meaning as in Appendix VII of the 50th Report; and

 (e)  item 5 of the table has the same meaning as in Appendix VIII of the 50th Report.

 (4)  A reference in subsection (3) to the table is a reference to the table for subsection (7).

 (5) For the purposes of paragraph 1.4.2—3 (2)(a), the portion of a commodity in a food group listed in column 2 of the table to subsection (8) that is specified is the portion listed in the corresponding row of Column 3 of that table.

 (6) In this section, a reference to -

  the 49th Report is a reference to REP17/PR, the Report of the 49th Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticides Residues, Beijing, P.R. China, 24 - 29 April 2017 as presented to the 40th Session of the Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission, Geneva, Switzerland 17 – 22 July 2017;

  the 50th Report is a reference to REP18/PR, the Report of the 50th Session of the Codex Committee on Pesticides Residues Haikou, P.R. China, 9 - 14 April 2018 as presented to the 41st Session of the Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission, Rome, Italy, 2 – 6 July 2018.

 (7) The table for this subsection is:

Classes, groups and subgroups of plant foods

 (8) The table for this subsection is:

Portion of a plant commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply

S22—6 Derived edible commodities of plant origin

Derived edible commodities of plant origin

‘Derived edible products’ are foods or edible substances isolated from primary food commodities or raw agricultural commodities using physical, biological or chemical processing. This includes groups such as vegetable oils (crude and refined), by-products of the fractionation of cereals and teas (fermented and dried).

Cereal grain milling fractions

This group includes milling fractions of cereal grains at the final stage of milling and preparation in the fractions, and includes processed brans.

Commodities: Cereal brans, processed; Maize flour; Maize meal; Rice bran, processed; Rye bran, processed; Rye flour; Rye wholemeal; Wheat bran, processed; Wheat germ; Wheat flour; Wheat wholemeal.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

Tea

Teas are derived from the leaves of several plants, principally Camellia sinensis. They are used mainly in a fermented and dried form or only as dried leaves for the preparation of infusions.

Commodities: Tea, green, black.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

Vegetable oils, crude

This group includes the crude vegetable oils derived from oil seed, tropical and sub-tropical oil-containing fruits such as olives, and some pulses. Exposure to pesticides is through pre-harvest treatment of the relevant crops or post-harvest treatment of the oilseeds or oil-containing pulses.

Commodities: Vegetable oils, crude; Cotton seed oil, crude; Coconut oil, crude; Maize oil, crude; Olive oil, crude; Palm oil, crude; Palm kernel oil, crude; Peanut oil, crude; Rape seed oil, crude; Safflower seed oil, crude; Sesame seed oil, crude; Soya bean oil, crude.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

Vegetable oils, edible

Vegetable oils, edible are derived from the crude oils through a refining and/or clarifying process. Exposure to pesticides is through pre-harvest treatment of the relevant crops or post-harvest treatment of the oilseeds or oil-containing pulses.

Commodities: Vegetable oils, edible; Cotton seed oil, edible; Coconut oil, refined; Maize oil, edible; Olive oil, refined; Palm oil, edible; Palm kernel oil, edible; Peanut oil, edible; Rape seed oil, edible; Safflower seed oil, edible; Sesame seed oil, edible; Soya bean oil, refined; Sunflower seed oil, edible.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

Manufactured multi-ingredient cereal products

The commodities of this group are manufactured with several ingredients; products derived from cereal grains however form the major ingredient.

Commodities: Bread and other cooked cereal products; Maize bread; Rye bread; White bread; Wholemeal bread.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

Miscellaneous

Commodities: Olives, processed; Peppermint oil; Citrus oil; Sugar cane molasses.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

S22—7 Secondary commodities of plant origin

Secondary commodities of plant origin

The term ‘Secondary food commodity’ refers to a primary food commodity which has undergone simple processing, such as removal of certain portions, drying (except natural drying), husking, and comminution, which do not basically alter the composition or identity of the product. For the commodities referred to in dried fruits, dried vegetables and dried herbs refer to the commodity groupings for fruits, vegetables and herbs. Naturally field dried mature crops such as pulses or cereal grains are not considered as secondary food commodities.

Dried fruits

Dried fruits are generally artificially dried. Exposure to pesticides may arise from pre-harvest application, post-harvest treatment of the fruits before processing, or treatment of the dried fruit to avoid losses during transport and distribution.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity after removal of stones, but the residue is calculated on the whole commodity.

Dried herbs

Dried herbs are generally artificially dried and often comminuted. Exposure to pesticides is from pre-harvest applications and/or treatment of the dry commodities.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

Dried vegetables

Dried vegetables are generally artificially dried and often comminuted. Exposure to pesticides is from pre-harvest application and/or treatment of the dry commodities.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

Milled cereal products (early milling stages)

The group ‘milled cereal products (early milling stages)’ includes the early milling fractions of cereal grains, except buckwheat, such as husked rice, polished rice and the unprocessed cereal grain brans. Exposure to pesticides is through pre-harvest treatments of the growing cereal grain crop and especially through post-harvest treatment of cereal grains.

Commodities: Bran, unprocessed; Rice bran, unprocessed; Rice, husked; Rice, polished; Rye bran, unprocessed; Wheat bran, unprocessed.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

S22—8 Secondary commodities of animal origin

Secondary commodities of animal origin

The term ‘secondary food commodity’ refers to a primary food commodity which has undergone simple processing, such as removal of certain portions, drying, and comminution, which do not basically alter the composition or identity of the commodity.

Animal fats, processed

This group includes rendered or extracted (possibly refined and/or clarified) fats from mammals and poultry and fats and oils derived from fish.

Commodities: Tallow and lard from cattle, goats, pigs and sheep; Poultry fats, processed.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

Dried meat and fish products

For the commodities referred to in dried meat and dried fish products refer to the commodity groupings for meat and fish. Dried meat and fish products includes naturally or artificially dried meat products and dried fish, mainly marine fish.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

Milk fats

Milk fats are the fatty ingredients derived from the milk of various mammals.

Portion of the commodity to which the MRL and ERL apply (and which is analysed): whole commodity.

Amendment History

The Amendment History provides information about each amendment to the Schedule. The information includes commencement or cessation information for relevant amendments.

These 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.

About this compilation

This is compilation No. 4 of Schedule 22 as in force on 22 July 2024 (up to Amendment No. 229). It includes any commenced amendment affecting the compilation to that date.

Prepared by Food Standards Australia New Zealand on 22 July 2024.

Uncommenced amendments or provisions ceasing to have effect

To 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.

The following abbreviations may be used in the table below:

ad = added or inserted am = amended

exp = expired or ceased to have effect rep = repealed

rs = repealed and substituted

Schedule 22 was published in the Food Standards Gazette No. FSC96 on 10 April 2015 as part of Amendment 154 (F2015L00433 –- 1 April 2015) and has since been amended as follows: