News Meat
NVWA stricter on medicine residues in beef
The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is becoming even stricter when it comes to checking (forbidden) medicine residues in beef. This follows from a trial with a new detection method. This also allows limited exceedances of anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers and antibiotics to be demonstrated.
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Choose the subscription that suits youThe violations came to light in a research project, where biomarkers are used. These could also be used more widely. Although there is a minimal risk to public health, the NVWA strictly enforces this, it says. For that reason, meat from a dozen animals, still to be discovered, containing excessively high amounts of banned antibiotics and other medicines is being removed from the market.
NVWA control at the slaughter line.
A total of 240 samples were taken during the trial with the new detection method. In addition, almost fifty were found to contain traces of anti-inflammatories, painkillers and antibiotics. Most are very low doses, which can have various causes.
For example, it is possible that antibiotics are present in feed in which it can occur naturally. Previous drug use can also be a cause. Recent administration is suspected in a number of animals. The presence of the resources has been traced to a dozen animals. These either had an exceedance of the maximum residue limit (MRL) on painkillers and/or a positive sample on antibiotics, or an anti-inflammatory drug that should not be used in cattle.
Tracing cattle started
Because of the banned substances, the NVWA has ordered the retrieval of meat still present in the chain. This is in fact a violation of European food safety rules. It concerns animals that were slaughtered in January 2022. The producer is responsible for the quality and safety of his products as well as for their recovery. The NVWA will monitor this. At the same time, the NVWA started an investigation yesterday into the origin companies of the animals, the transport and the food chain information provided.
The NVWA is conducting further investigations and, among other things, examines whether there may be a case of intent. This is done, among other things, through inspections at the livestock farmers, traders and transporters involved. That investigation is ongoing.