Withdrawal period tables now available on NOAH website

NOAH has published tables showing withdrawal periods for animal medicines on its website www.noah.co.uk. For the first time there is free on-line access to these easy-to-use tables.

The tables have also been included in the just-published NOAH Compendium of Data Sheets for Veterinary Products 2002-2003, (price £26, contact NOAH for more details) but the electronic version can be kept up-to-date as NOAH is advised of changes. NOAH's site includes a facility for users to register to be updated when changes to the tables occur. 

Use of animal medicines in farm animals is strictly controlled by European law. The withdrawal period is the time which passes between the last dose of a medicine 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 this time has elapsed, the animal or its products must not, by law, be used for human consumption. 

Statistics back up the excellent track record of UK farmers and vets in observing the regulations - and measures are in place to ensure things to stay that way. As part of that effort, the VMD operates two complementary surveillance programmes for animal medicine residues to ensure that residues above the MRL do not occur and that prohibited or illegal drugs are not used. In the few cases where confirmatory analysis shows presence of unauthorised medicines or concentrations above the MRL, these are followed up. The State Veterinary Service investigates the farm, advises, inspects and if appropriate, prosecutes. The figures are published regularly and results are reassuring - figures just published by the independent Veterinary Residues Committee show that in 2001, only 75 of 44,000 samples (0.17%) had residues of animal medicines above the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL), and the Food Standards Agency's toxicologists have advised that none of these were of concern for human health. 

1 November 2002

Notes for Editors

1. For further information contact Phil Sketchley or Alison Glennon at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)20 8367 3131, or visit the NOAH website.

2. The National Office of Animal Health was formed on 1 January 1986 to represent the UK companies which research, develop, manufacture and market licensed animal health products. The association has 36 corporate members and 12 associate members. In 2001 NOAH's members accounted for around 95% of the £359 million UK animal health market, with additional valuable exports.

3. The first annual report of the Veterinary Residues Committee was published on 17 October. It is also available on the following website: http://www.vet-residues-committee.gov.uk. 

4. An MRL is the maximum concentration of residue following administration of a veterinary medicine which is legally permitted or acceptable in food under the laws of the EU. The responsibility for keeping residues under the MRL lies with veterinary surgeons and farmers, using licensed animal medicines. Withdrawal periods exist so that MRLs are not exceeded and to ensure consumer safety. Accordingly, safety is of paramount importance when both MRLs and withdrawal periods are established and the legislators always err on the side of caution. For example, the calculation of the MRL value is based on the acceptable daily intake (ADI; see below) for the drug in question. The calculation of the ADI includes an extremely large safety factor. In addition, the MRL calculation assumes an intake per person every single day of 500g of meat, 1.5 litres of milk, 2 eggs and 20 g of honey. Legislators might be well advised to consider the health implications for obesity and cholesterol levels!