Title
Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods
Description
The Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods will be meeting next week in San José Costa Rica for its 22nd Session. Understanding CodexFood-producing animals may be treated with veterinary medicines to prevent or cure disease. The medicine may leave residues in the food from such treated animals. Food can also contain residues of pesticides and contaminants to which animals have been exposed. In all cases, the levels of residues in food should not harm the consumer.
Some definitionsA Codex Maximum Limit for Residues of Veterinary Drugs (MRL) is the maximum concentration or residue that results from the use of a veterinary drug (expressed in mg/kg or g/kg on a fresh weight basis) recommended by the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be legally permitted or recognised as acceptable in or on a food. An MRL is based on the type and amount of residue considered to be without any toxicological hazard from human health as expressed by the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI)*, or on the basis of a temporary ADI that utilises an additional safety factor. An MRL also considers public health risks as well as food technology issues.
When establishing a MRL, residues that occur in food of plant origin and/or the environment are also considered. Furthermore, a MRL may be reduced to be consistent with good practices in the use of veterinary drugs to the extent that practical and analytical methods are available. Existing Codex StandardsStandards relating to residues of veterinary drugs in foods include standards on:
For a full list of standards approved by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, click here. News date
23/04/2015
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