Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Agriculture and land
  3. Farming, food and rural support
  4. Food
  5. National Residue Survey
  6. Residue chemistry and laboratory performance and evaluation

Sidebar first - Farming

  • National Residue Survey
    • Residue and residue testing
    • Results and publications
    • Animal product residue monitoring
    • Contact us
    • Definitions, abbreviations and acronyms
    • Databases
    • Plant product residue monitoring
    • Residue chemistry and laboratory performance and evaluation

Residue chemistry and laboratory performance and evaluation

The National Residue Survey (NRS) contracts the services of Australian and New Zealand laboratories to perform residue testing. The laboratories must have demonstrated capabilities in the specific chemical residue analyses that are required by export and domestic markets.

Laboratory performance evaluation (LPE)

NRS laboratory performance evaluation activities, generally based on proficiency testing (PT), seek to make regular and objective evaluations of contract laboratory competency. They are designed to maintain an up-to-date and continuing assessment of the proficiency of laboratories that are analysing samples for NRS or seeking to offer such services in the future.

We recognise the suitability of laboratories for export testing of produce based on such demonstrated competency. Laboratory performance evaluation also helps to ensure the quality of the analytical testing service delivered to participating industries.

Participating in proficiency testing

NRS contract laboratories are required to participate in all relevant, scheduled PT conducted by the NRS for the entire contract term. In addition, NRS PT is open to any other Australian laboratory currently testing chemical–commodity combinations included in the NRS suite of programs for which an NRS PT program is offered. Overseas laboratories may also participate where circumstances permit (e.g. stability of chemicals, import conditions, courier requirements).

Participation in NRS PT is free of charge, however in the case of overseas laboratories, additional charges may apply to cover courier costs and phytosanitary certificates.

Role of the Laboratory Performance Evaluation Committee

The primary role of the LPE Committee is to advise on the PT schemes run by the NRS. The LPE Committee examines analytical PT results and their statistical interpretation, where relevant, to rank laboratory performance.

Members of the LPE Committee may also provide feedback on the planning and implementation of proficiency tests, and perform random audits of individual participant results.

National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation

The NRS is accredited by the NATA as a Proficiency Scheme Testing Provider as assessed against ISO/IEC 17043, but is not itself a laboratory accreditation body. The NRS recognises and supports the role of NATA as the principal agent of laboratory accreditation, and the relevant nationally and internationally defined standards.

NATA accreditation (or international equivalent) is generally required by any laboratory providing chemical analytical services to the NRS. However, the NRS does not require a laboratory to hold (or be seeking) NATA accreditation, either in a particular test or in chemical residue analysis, as a precondition of participation in NRS PT. Where appropriate, participation in the NRS PT may assist in gaining or maintaining of its accreditation.

In the case of overseas laboratories, the NRS recognises accreditation by bodies that are signatories to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Arrangement (often referred to as the ILAC Arrangement).

Laboratory procurement process

All information relating to provision of chemical analytical testing for the NRS can be accessed through AusTender. The 13th term contracts run from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2027, with the possibility of extension to 30 June 2029.

The 13th term contracted laboratories and their respective testing programs are listed below:

Meat, Seafood and Eggs Testing programs
Program numberProgram nameContract laboratory
Program 1Antimicrobials in kidney, poultry liver, eggs and seafoodQDAF CRL
Program 3Phenicols in muscle and seafoodAsureQuality
Program 3EPhenicols in eggsAsureQuality
Program 4Nitrofuran metabolites in muscle, eggs and seafoodAsureQuality
Program 4INitrofuran metabolites in retinaAsureQuality
Program 5ANitroimidazoles in muscle, eggs and seafoodAsureQuality
Program 5BOlaquindox and carbadox in liverAsureQuality
Program 6AStilbenes, zeranols and trenbolone in liverAsureQuality
Program 6CStilbenes, zeranols and trenbolone in faecesSymbio Laboratories
Program 7Beta-agonists in liverAsureQuality
Program 8Pesticides in fat and eggsSymbio Laboratories
Program 10Cyromazine, melamine and dicyclanil in kidneyQDAF CRL
Program 11Anthelmintics in liverAsureQuality
Program 12Macrocyclic lactones, spinosyns and other anthelmintics in fat and seafoodSymbio Laboratories
Program 15Triclabendazole in liverSymbio Laboratories
Program 16Metals in liver and eggsSymbio Laboratories
Program 18Dioxins in fatAsureQuality
Program 20Androgenic substances in urineAsureQuality
Program 23Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in kidneyQDAF CRL
Program 27Anticoccidials in liver and eggsSymbio Laboratories
Program 28Benzoyl ureas in fatSymbio Laboratories
Program 31Acrylonitrile and vinyl chloride in eggsAsureQuality
Program 32Indicator PCBs in eggsAsureQuality
Program 33Quinolones and fluoroquinolones in kidneyQDAF CRL
Program 35Corticosteroids in liverAsureQuality
Program 37Herbicides in kidneySymbio Laboratories
Program 38Anaesthetics in fatAsureQuality
Program 39Imidocarb in kidneySybmio Laboratories
NARM ScreeningUrine screeningSouthern Scientific Services
NARM/TART ConfirmatoryKidney confirmatory testingQDAF CRL
Seafood Testing Programs
Program numberProgram nameContract laboratory
Program 306Steroids in seafoodAsureQuality
Program 308Pesticides in seafoodAsureQuality
Program 316Metals in seafoodSymbio Laboratories
Program 317Dyes in seafoodAsureQuality
Program 333Quinolones and fluoroquinolones in seafoodQDAF CRL
Honey Testing Programs
Program numberProgram nameContract laboratory
Program 201Antimicrobials in honeyQDAF CRL
Program 203Phenicols in honeyAsureQuality
Program 204Nitrofuran metabolites in honeyAsureQuality
Program 206Metals in honeySymbio Laboratories
Program 208Pesticides in honeyAsureQuality
Program 209Paradichlorobenzene in honeyQDAF CRL
Grains Testing Programs
Program numberProgram nameContract laboratory
Program 42Phosphine in cereal grains, flour, bran, pulses, oilseedsAgrifood Technology
Program 46Metals in cereal grains, flour, bran, pulses, oilseedsSymbio Laboratories
Program 49Multi-residue pesticide screen in cereal grains, flour, bran, pulses and oilseedsSymbio Laboratories
Program 49HHerbicides in cereal grains, flour, bran, pulses and oilseeds, macadamia nuts and almondsSymbio Laboratories
Program 49IImidazolinone herbicides in cereal grains, pulses and oilseedsSymbio Laboratories
Horticulture Testing Programs
Program numberProgram nameContract laboratory
Program 142Phosphine in almondsAgrifood Technology
Program 156Metals in macadamia nuts, almonds, apples and pearsSymbio Laboratories
Program 157Microbiology in apples and pearsAgrifood Technology
Program 169Multi-residue pesticide screen including dithiocarbamates in macadamia nuts, almonds, apples and pearsSymbio Laboratories
Program 179Patulin in apple and pear juiceAsureQuality

Testing and reporting of results

For the information of laboratories wishing to undertake contract work, the NRS specifies and publishes LOR values for each chemical–commodity combination required for NRS tests. These values are published in the 'National Residue Survey Proficiency Tests Handbook' (available from NRS on request).

Laboratory method LORs would generally be expected to be less than or equal to the NRS specified values. A contract laboratory must report quantitative results for analytes detected above the laboratory's method LOR, irrespective of the level at which the NRS LOR has been set. Detections of an analyte above the laboratory's method LOD, but less than the laboratory's method LOR, must also be reported.

All analytes reported at or above the laboratory's method LOD must have been identified in a manner consistent with the criteria outlined in the European Commission Decision 2002/657/EC (available from NRS on request).

General enquiries

Call 1800 900 090

Contact us online

Report a biosecurity concern

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 25 July 2024

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram