This section is responsible
for the monitoring of veterinary drug residues and contaminants in food of
animal origin. The National Residue
Control Programme provides for the detection of residues in local produce. The Control Programme covers different
species such as bovine, swine, poultry, ovine, caprine and rabbit samples as
well as farmed fish. Animal products
such as eggs, milk and honey are also tested.
Different substances
categorised in two different groups are tested under the National Residue
Control Programme. Group A substances
comprise anabolic substances and substances prohibited for use in food
producing animals such as stilbenes, anti-thyroid agents, steroids, beta
agonists, etc. Group B substances
include veterinary drugs authorised for use in food-producing animals but for
which a withdrawal period is required prior to slaughter, during which the
animals should not be administered the drugs and contaminants.
In parallel to the National
Residue Control Plan, a number of surveys are also carried out yearly to ensure
that there is no prevalence of particular veterinary residues within a given
animal population and to check the status of food not covered by the national
plan.
An Import Control Plan is
also carried out annually to detect residues in food of animal origin imported
from third countries. This plan is based
on the nature of the products, the country of origin and the risk these
products represent.
Chemical
extraction for veterinary residue analysis