|
Withholding periods and post harvest treatment
Responsibilities for withholding periods
The withholding period is the minimum length of time (days or weeks) stated on a chemical product label that must elapse between application of the chemical and the harvesting, selling or using of the agricultural produce. Agricultural produce includes crops harvested for human food and products derived from animals for human food, including meat, milk and eggs. Withholding periods also apply to grazing or cutting the treated plants (including pasture) for stock feed, and to wool.
The following are examples of withholding period statements:
- Apples: Do not harvest for 7 days after last application
- Grains: Do not sell or use treated grain for human or animal consumption for 90 days after use
- Meat: Cattle 21 days; pigs 3 days
In Victoria, the responsibility to comply with the withholding period is placed upon the owner of the agricultural produce. The sale of agricultural produce or stock food is prohibited if the withholding period has not expired, unless the buyer has been notified in writing by the seller that the withholding period has not yet expired.
Grazing withholding periods are found on some product labels. The grazing withholding period is the time that must elapse between the application of the chemical and livestock grazing or coming into contact with the treated plants. If stock graze or come in contact with treated plants, and the withholding period has not yet expired, the livestock and the produce derived from them (e.g. milk, eggs, wool) cannot be sold unless the buyer is notified in writing by the seller that the withholding period has not expired.
The purpose of withholding periods is to ensure that food derived form treated crops or animals will meet acceptable residue levels established by the Australian Food Standards Code. In the case of wool the withholding period is designed to ensure that the wool from treated sheep will not lead to effluent from wool scouring plants exceeding Australian environmental standards.
Post harvest treatment of agricultural produce
People who transport or handle agricultural produce require written permission from the owners of the produce to apply chemicals to that produce.
This means that the unauthorised chemical treatment of agricultural produce (e.g. treatment of grains during transport or dipping of fruit and vegetables in packing sheds) is prohibited.
This requirement has been introduced to ensure that unacceptable residues do not occur in agricultural produce which has been treated by people who are not the owners of the produce, either during processing or in transit. The owner is responsible for agricultural produce meeting acceptable residue levels and stands to suffer a loss through the actions of another person.
Written permission can be given for one, or all, chemical products for any period of time deemed suitable by the owner. A sample form has been drawn up which demonstrates how the information could be relayed. It is not compulsory to use this particular form, but it is provided for guidance purposes only.
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the document below. A free copy can be downloaded from Adobe Acrobat (external link).
 (PDF 31kb)
|
