FSA Consumer Attitude Survey: good news available on
veterinary residues
There's good news on veterinary residues in
food, says the National
Office of Animal Health.
In a new consumer attitude survey published by the Food
Standards Agency, which showed consumer concern about food to be
dropping, forty four percent of consumers wanted to learn more about
chemicals in their food. But, for veterinary medicines, the information is
already available.
The independent Veterinary
Residues Committee report published last October, giving residues
surveillance figures for 2001, concluded "that no UK authorised use
of a veterinary medicinal product resulted in a residue which would give
cause for concern for human health": a high level of compliance with
safe use of animal medicines is being achieved.
"These figures are excellent and show animal medicines are being
used responsibly," said Phil Sketchley, NOAH chief executive.
"Out of the 44,000 samples tested, 99.73% had no residues of animal
medicines above the Maximum Residue Limit
(MRL). The Food Standards
Agency's toxicologists advised that the very few where residues were
detected were of no concern for human health.
"The UK animal medicines industry and its regulators has a good
record on publishing information. But sometimes success is not 'news'. We
would welcome the opportunity to discuss with the Food Standards Agency
and other stakeholders, how, through consumers' advice sources of choice -
broadcast and print media - we can help spread the word about the role of
animal medicines in the production of healthy food from healthy
animals," said Mr Sketchley.
25 February 2003
Notes for Editors
For further information contact Phil Sketchley or Alison Glennon at NOAH, tel. +44 (0)20 8367 3131,
or visit the NOAH website.
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
13 associate members.
In 2001 NOAH's members accounted for around 95% of the £359 million UK animal health
market, with additional valuable exports.
The survey can be found on the FSA website http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk
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