Residue Testing Flashcards
Why do we residue test?
Current concerns that the use of ABX in animals may compromise the effectiveness of related medicines in man.
Sex hormones and growth promotors have been used in the past in meat animals, which can affect the consumer.
- Who enforces, manages and tests in the National Surveillance Plan?
2.
- VMD.
Non-Statutory Programme.
Samples taken from popular presentations of meat and animal products, collected from shops and at the border inspection posts.
Subjected to a range of analyses by the Central Science Laboratory in York.
Random.
Can be based on intelligence.
Retailers informed by VMD od any “positive” samples purchased from their stores, and consumer organisations, local authorities, relevant trade associations and producers are contacted where appropriate to make them aware of the results.
Products may need to be recalled.
- Define Maximum Residue Limit.
- Who carries out the assessment for the safety of residues?
- Maximum conc. of residue accepted by EU in a food product obtained from an animal that has received a vet med.
- The Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP).
- Define the ‘no-effect’ level.
- Maximum dose of a substance that can be consumed over a stated period w/o producing detectable ill effects. Used to help calculate an appropriate ‘withdrawal period’ for the medicine.
Define withdrawal period.
Time which passes between the last dose given to the animal and the time when the level of residues in the tissues (muscle, liver, kidney, skin/fat) or products (milk, eggs, honey) is lower than or equal to the MRL.
Why do withdrawal periods exist?
So that MRLs are not exceeded and to ensure consumer safety.
Safety is of paramount importance when both MRLs and withdrawal periods are established and the legislators always err on the side of caution. So, even if residues exceed MRL (which they shouldn’t), they generally present no risk to the consumer because of the very large safety margins used in setting MRL.
- What does NOAH stand for?
- How can NOAH be used in ensuring limits are not exceeded?
- Where else can withdrawal periods be found?
- How is it straightforward to ensure that withdrawal periods are observed?
- National Office of Animal Health.
- Lists products and withdrawal periods.
- Instructions for use which are part of the product packaging.
- Farmers are required by law to record all uses of animal medicines.
- What is an AO?
- Powers of AO.
- Authorised Officer.
- Detain any animal for inspection before slaughter.
Detain any animal/part of animal after slaughter for inspection, samples and analysis.
Detain animals/carcases until the results of the analysis are know.
Residue sampling.
VMD will decide how many samples are required for each abattoir and what tests will be performed.
FSA will be notified using Monthly Sampling Schedule.
Random.
Samples taken just like evidence in court.
– AO only to take samples, plant representative must sign to say they did take samples, sent away in bags for analysis.
Details what tissue is required as they know what tests are required.
Warrant cards held by AO to be allowed access.
Other than the randomised sampling system, when else can samples be obtained?
If the OV suspects substances present that are prohibited.
Signs of hormone growth promoters in the live animal.
Secondary sexual characteristics.
Crest development.
Teat development.
Restlessness; not settling in lairage and mill around.
Behavioural changes.
Mounting.
Aggression.
An even level of finish in a group of cattle of different breeds/types.
Signs of authorised substances above MRL.
Signs of recent illness, particularly:
- mastitis (signs may be seen prior to removal of udder).
- lameness/arthritis.
- pleurisy/pneumonia.
- poor condition.
- metritis (signs may be seen prior to evisceration or during inspection of offal).
- emergency slaughter animals.
Injection sites, particularly:
- bruising/discolouration.
- smell (esp tetracyclines).
- swellings.
- consider sites with an oily adjuvant to be illegal hormone treatment.
Evidence of implants – Compudose (oestradiol), Finaplix (Trenbolone), Implixa (testosterone).
Results.
VMD will inform the OV by telephone of the results as soon as they are available, followed by written confirmation.
If results are positive, further action depends on the type of substance found; VMD will issue specific instructions for each case.
Detention of residues of unauthorised substances will be immediately investigated and the prosecution considered by Defra Investigation Branch.
- Rejection of products of animal origin containing veterinary medicine or growth promotor illegal in the EU?
- Rejection of products of animal origin containing legal veterinary medicine or growth promotor above MRL?
- Rejected as a category 1 ABP.
- Rejected as a category 2 ABP.
