2026年7月28日，新西兰讯——新西兰食品安全部长 Andrew Hoggard 表示，政府正在调整相关规定，为种植规模较小农作物的农户提供更灵活的农业化学品使用途径，以帮助他们更有效控制害虫和杂草，同时保障食品安全。

引入国际标准　提高农户选择空间

农业化学品的使用受到基于风险评估的最大残留限量（Maximum Residue Levels, MRLs）监管。

此前，对于草莓、叶菜类等小规模种植作物，由于新西兰尚未针对部分农药设定具体残留标准，农户往往只能依靠较低的默认残留限量，这限制了一些有效除草剂和杀虫剂的实际应用。

Andrew Hoggard表示，新政策将为这些种植者提供新的途径，使他们能够采用国际认可、基于科学风险评估制定的残留标准。

他说：

“国际食品法典委员会（Codex）已经完成相关标准制定工作，这是一个兼顾食品安全与产业灵活性的实际解决方案，将帮助农业企业获得更多选择，并支持出口发展。”

支持小型园艺产业提升竞争力

目前，大多数农业化学品主要针对大型经济作物注册，例如：

• 猕猴桃；
• 苹果等。

产品标签通常明确规定允许使用的作物范围和方式。

而对于小规模作物种植者，如果希望使用同类产品，过去往往需要采取“标签外使用”（off-label use）方式。由于默认残留限量较低，农户可能必须提前较长时间停止使用农药，或者降低使用效果，从而影响生产效率。

草莓种植案例

部长以草莓种植为例说明新政策带来的变化。

在新的申请机制下，草莓种植者可以申请采用国际食品法典标准中针对 sulfoxaflor（磺酰氟虫腈类杀虫剂） 的残留限量。

按照Codex标准：

• 残留限量可达到 0.5 mg/kg；
• 允许农户在采收期间使用，并保留合理安全间隔期。

相比之下，目前新西兰默认标准为：

• 0.1 mg/kg；
• 需要更长的停用等待时间；
• 限制了采摘季节期间的实际应用。

政府将逐项审核申请

新西兰食品安全部门（New Zealand Food Safety）将负责评估每一项申请。

审核流程包括：

1. 企业或种植者提交申请；
2. 官方根据安全标准进行评估；
3. 符合条件后进行公众咨询；
4. 如无重大风险或反对意见，将批准采用基于Codex标准的新西兰最大残留限量。

Andrew Hoggard表示：

“这项改革旨在通过合理、务实的监管释放小规模种植者的发展潜力，在确保食品安全的同时，让农业产业更加容易开展经营。”

The Government is making it easier for growers of smaller-scale crops to use the agricultural chemicals they need to control pests and weeds, says Minister for Food Safety Andrew Hoggard.

Agricultural chemicals are subject to risk-based maximum residue levels (MRLs). Until now, growers of minor crops such as strawberries or leafy greens have often had to rely on low default MRLs where no specific New Zealand limit has been set.

“These growers now have a pathway to use internationally agreed, risk-based MRLs, helping them get better value from available herbicides and insecticides.

Codex, the international standards-setting agency, has already done the work. This is a practical solution that balances safety with flexibility and makes it easier for industry to do business. Industry strongly supports this change, which will give growers more options and support export opportunities,” Mr Hoggard says.

Most agricultural chemicals are registered for major crops, such as kiwifruit or apples, and their labels set out how they can be used.

Minor-crop growers who want to use the same products often need to do so off-label. Because default residue limits are low, they may have to use products early in the season or at less effective rates.

“Under the new pathway, strawberry growers could apply for a Codex MRL for sulfoxaflor, giving them another option to control aphids. A Codex MRL of 0.5 mg/kg would allow use during harvest with a practical withholding period, compared with New Zealand’s default MRL of 0.1 mg/kg, which requires a longer withholding period and limits its usefulness during the picking season,” Mr Hoggard says.

New Zealand Food Safety will assess each request. If it meets the criteria, public consultation will follow. If no concerns are raised, a New Zealand MRL based on the Codex MRL will be approved and adopted.

“This is about unlocking the potential of smaller-scale growers through sensible, practical rules that keep food safe and make it easier to get on with the job,” Mr Hoggard says.

More information about the new pathway and how to apply is on MPI’s website.