At the end of 2001 and during the first months of 2002 several control laboratories in member countries of the European Union detected trace amounts of chloramphenicol and nitrofurans in imported animal products (e.g. shrimps, chicken). These findings were triggered mainly by improvements of analytical methods which significantly lowered the levels of detection for residues of these drugs. Following the European Unions safeguard provisions for imports of animal products, some producers and producing countries were temporarily withdrawn from the list of approved exporters, while others were forced to rapidly implement drastic measures.
The Joint FAO/WHO Technical Workshop on Residues of Veterinary Drugs without ADI/MRL met in order to provide FAO, WHO and the Codex Alimentarius Commission with a first analysis of the disruptions in food trade that started in 2001/2002, identify the scientific, technical and regulatory problems related to them and discuss, if possible, any appropriate follow-up steps.
The experts who attended the meeting were selected by FAO and WHO according to their scientific and technical expertise on the topic, recent work on a national/international level on analytical methods for residues of veterinary drugs, experience in capacity building on control systems for veterinary drugs, or work in the risk assessment of veterinary drugs or the corresponding regulatory framework. The panel was selected to provide regional balance, including expertise from developing countries involved in these issues. At the same time the panel provided expertise reflecting current standard practice while offering new approaches with independent scientific/technical advice.
All experts were asked to prepare working papers on specific issues; in addition input from other interested parties was invited. The working papers and other material received by the Secretariat were distributed to the participants for consideration before the meeting.
At the meeting, the main issues identified in the working papers were presented in short summaries followed by discussions of two working groups which dealt with Risk Assessments/Analytical Methodology and Regulatory Framework/Capacity Building, respectively.
The workshop was opened by the Dr He Changchui, Assistant Director General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific and Mr Worwate Tamrongtanyalak, Secretary General of the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, Thailand. Dr He thanked the government of Thailand for hosting the meeting and providing further support in its preparation and stressed that the subject of the meeting will further contribute to promoting and reinforcing policy and regulatory frameworks for food products and create sustainable increases in the supply and availability of food and other agricultural products. Mr Worwate underlined that the invitation is a signal of the country's commitment to improve the quality and safety of food in order to transform the food sector into a modern dynamic and competitive sector. As part of this effort Thailand had recently pursued a policy of "Clean and Safe Food for all in 2004", aiming at achieving and maintaining a high standard and quality of foods produced, consumed domestically and exported and meeting international food standards. Hence the country could possibly become the kitchen of the world.
The workshop appointed Dr Dieter Arnold, Germany, as Chairperson, and Dr Paul Brent, Australia, as rapporteur of the workshop, Dr Shoji Miyagawa, Japan, as Chairperson, and Dr Kevin Greenlees, USA, as rapporteur of the working group Risk Assessments/Analytical Methodology, and Dr Adriana Fernández Suárez, Argentina, as Chairperson, and Dr Glenn Kennedy, United Kingdom, as rapporteur of the working group Regulatory Framework/Capacity Building.
