Milk residues Flashcards
What are the basic characteristics of veterinary medicines and growth promoters that pose public health risks?
Antibiotics: Can lead to residues causing allergies and antimicrobial resistance.
Hormones and Growth Promoters: May disrupt endocrine systems.
Anti-parasitic Agents: Risk of residues affecting human health.
NSAIDs: May contaminate milk/meat, causing unintended human exposure.
Why do residues occur in animal products?
Failure to observe withdrawal periods.
Use of higher doses or longer treatment durations than authorized.
Illegal or unauthorized use of veterinary medicines.
What is the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL)?
The maximum concentration of a residue legally allowed in food, ensuring consumer safety. It is expressed in µg/kg and considers the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) from all sources.
What is the acceptable daily intake (ADI)?
The estimated daily amount of a substance, expressed per kg of body weight, that can be consumed over a lifetime without risk. It is based on NOAEL data divided by uncertainty factors.
What is a withdrawal period and why is it important?
The withdrawal period is the time after the last medicine administration until residues in edible tissues drop below the MRL. It ensures food safety and consumer protection.
What control measures are in place for veterinary substances?
National surveillance schemes to monitor residues.
Regulations requiring withdrawal periods.
Guidelines for proper medicine use and storage.
Testing bulk milk and meat for compliance.
How is the use of antibiotics monitored in the veterinary sector?
Surveillance schemes testing animal products for antibiotic residues.
Tracking compliance with withdrawal periods.
Regular audits of medicine records.
Bulk tank milk testing to detect antibiotic contamination.
Why is antibiotic residue in milk a concern?
Residues can disrupt dairy product fermentation (e.g., yoghurt, cheese).
Risk of allergic reactions in consumers.
Potential to foster antimicrobial resistance.
What is the purpose of residues surveillance programs?
Monitor compliance with veterinary medicine regulations.
Identify and correct violations.
Build public confidence in food safety.
What role does the veterinary medicines directorate (VMD) play in the uk?
The VMD oversees veterinary residues surveillance, ensures compliance with EU and UK regulations, and sets withdrawal periods.
What factors influence the calculation of ADI & MRL?
Quantity of food consumed daily.
Substance metabolism in animals.
Potential residues from other sources (e.g., pesticides).
What are off-label products in veterinary medicine?
Off-label products are medicines used in ways not specified in their Marketing Authorisation (MA), such as for a different species, condition, or dose, permitted under the Cascade to avoid animal suffering.
What is the cascade principle in veterinary medicine?
The Cascade is a risk-based decision tree allowing vets to prescribe medicines under specific conditions when no suitable authorised product is available, prioritizing options in descending order of suitability.
What are the steps of the cascade for prescribing medicines in GB?
In descending order of suitability:
- Use an authorised veterinary medicine for the indicated species and condition.
- Use an authorised veterinary medicine for a different species or condition.
- Use an authorised human medicine or imported veterinary medicine under a Special Import Certificate.
- Use an extemporaneous preparation (veterinary special).
What is required from vets when using the cascade?
Obtain owner consent.
Keep accurate records.
Prescribe medicines responsibly, balancing benefits against risks (e.g., residues, resistance).
Set appropriate withdrawal periods for food-producing animals.
Ensure that the evidence base for your prescribing decisions is robust and complies with Recognised Veterinary Practice (RVP).
If the treatment does not comply with RVP it may require licensing by the Home Office as a regulated procedure under the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act
What are the statutory minimum withdrawal periods under the Cascade for food-producing animals?
Eggs and milk: 7 days.
Meat (poultry and mammals): 28 days.
Fish meat: 500-degree days. (temperature-based calculation used to determine withdrawal period)
What factors must vets consider when setting withdrawal periods under the cascade?
Authorised withdrawal periods.
Pharmacokinetics of the medicine in the treated species.
Increased doses or longer treatment durations.
Ensuring no residues above the MRL remain.
What is the role of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) in regulating off-label use?
The VMD oversees compliance, maintains the Product Information Database, and ensures medicines used under the Cascade meet safety, quality, and efficacy standards.
What are the main principles of responsible antibiotic prescribing in veterinary medicine?
Use narrow-spectrum antibiotics when effective.
Base prescriptions on culture and sensitivity data.
Minimise selection pressure by optimizing dose and duration.
Ensure good biosecurity, hygiene, and husbandry practices.
Why should narrow-spectrum antibiotics be preferred over broad-spectrum antibiotics?
Narrow-spectrum antibiotics target specific bacteria, reducing the risk of promoting antimicrobial resistance compared to broad-spectrum antibiotics.
What must be considered when prescribing human medicines under the Cascade?
Human medicines cannot be prescribed simply for cost reasons and must not be interchangeable with veterinary medicines unless justified by the Cascade.
What is an extemporaneous preparation, and when can it be used?
An extemporaneous preparation is a veterinary special made without a Marketing Authorisation. It is used as a last resort under the Cascade when no other suitable option exists.
Describe off-label use/cascade in horses
Horses signed out of food chain can be treated as non-food-producing.
If not signed out, they must be treated as food-producing animals.
Certain essential substances can be used under Cascade with 6-month withdrawal period, even in food-eligible horses
Who can dispense cascade medicines
Only vets registered with RCVS may prescribe medicines under cascade.
A Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) may supply authorised veterinary medicine that falls within scope of registration they hold, against prescription from vet for use under cascade.
A pharmacist may dispense authorised veterinary & human medicines, & extemporaneous preparations they have prepared, against prescription from vet for use under cascade
