Topics and Briefing Documents

The Safety of Food from Animals

Use of animal medicines in farm animals is strictly controlled by European law, and requires observance of the withdrawal period. This is the 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) falls below the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL). Until the withdrawal period has elapsed, the animal or its products must not be used for human consumption.
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Briefing documents

• Maximum Residue Limits and the Safety of Food from Animals
• Controls on Animal Medicines
• Common Questions about Medicines for Farm Animals
• Poultry medicines
• Vaccination of farm animals
• Consumer attitudes to animal medicines

• Animal health in Europe: NOAH spells out priorities to MEPs (26 May 2009)
• Consumer attitudes to vaccination examined at NOAH conference (25 February 2009)
• Research reveals rise in consumer awareness of animal medicines (28 November 2008)
• NOAH hosts third food chain conference (13 October 2008)
• Consumers are relaxed about the use of animal medicines (9 November 2007)
• Industry launches practical guide poster for dairy farmers on avoiding antibiotic residues (17 September 2007)
• NOAH conference shows consumer confidence in food industry (30 November 2006)
• NOAH Conference to highlight the link between healthy animals and safe food (3 November 2006)
• Enforcement of appropriate controls welcomed for animal medicines as RSPB report highlights pesticide issues (17 January 2005)
• NOAH conference offers chance for open forum on safe food from healthy animals (10 December 2004)
• NOAH Conference to emphasise link between healthy animals and safe food (21 September 2004)
• New Veterinary Residues Committee report : good news on veterinary residues (18 December 2003)
• British milk in top league of safe foods (23 May 2003)
• FSA Consumer Attitude Survey: good news available on veterinary residues (25 February 2003)
• Feed additives vote in European Parliament (9 December 2002)
• Withdrawal period tables now available on NOAH website (1 November 2002)
• New report shows animal medicines are being used responsibly - and new NOAH data sheet compendium will help this continue (23 October 2002)
• NOAH Responds to Organic Lobby Report (5 June 2001)
• Latest VMD medicine code is in AHDA/NOAH record book (29 January 2001)
• Millennium edition of Animal Medicine Record Book now available (28 March 2000)
• NOAH welcomes clarification of FSA's Veterinary Products Committee role (17 November 1999)
• Farm assurance schemes: good and bad, NOAH tells FAWC (14 October 1999)
• Keep scientific advice independent, NOAH warns peers (7 October 1999)
• NOAH Condemns Illegal Imports (17 June 1999)
• NOAH welcomes new Code of Practice for Responsible Use of Animal Medicines on Farms (29 April 1999)
• NOAH cautions on Food Standards Committee Proposal (23 April 1999)
• Food Standards Agency must guard against over-ambition, warns NOAH (26 March 1999)
• Make VMD police permanent says NOAH (24 December 1998)
• NOAH Deplores Organic Opportunism (5 August 1998)
• Food Gets the OK for Veterinary Medicines Residues (23 July 1998)
• 'NCC should check its facts before criticising British farming' says NOAH (9 March 1998)
• New Food Agency: NOAH Offers Help (9 May 1997)

Further information

• Veterinary Residues Fact Sheet
• Food Standards Agency Food Alert - Recall of lamb (October 2007)
• RUMA guidelines for the responsible use of vaccines and vaccination in farm animals
• RUMA guidelines for the responsible use of antimicrobials in farm animals
• Withdrawal periods are on the NOAH Compendium website
• Veterinary Residues Committee website
• Veterinary Residues Committee Annual Reports
• VMD Residues Report for 2000
• VMD Residues Report for 1999
• VMD Residues Report for 1998
• VMD document "Facts About Veterinary Residues in Food"
• VMD response to June 2001 Soil Association report
• Details of MRLs that have been set are available from the European Medicines Evaluation Agency
• NOAH produces the Animal Medicines Record Book to assist farmers in keeping records to make sure that withdrawal periods are complied with
• NOAH also sends vets free of charge copies of its Compendium to ensure that the right withdrawal periods are used