FSIS Issues Draft U.S. Positions on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Food
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has made available the draft U.S. positions that will be discussed at the 19th session of the Codex1 Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods that will take place in Vermont on August 30 -- September 3, 2010.
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According to FSIS sources, comments are welcome up until the committee meeting.
Standards Developed by Codex Committees May Become Int’l Standards
FSIS has previously explained that Codex may finalize standards developed in its Committees and publish them as regional or worldwide standards.
Highlights of Codex Committee Agenda Items, U.S. Positions
The following are highlights of the agenda items and draft U.S. positions for the next meeting of the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods:
Narasin & tilmicosin. The U.S. supports the draft Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for narasin (in cattle and pig tissues) and tilmicosin (in chicken and turkey tissues) at Step 6 for advancement to Step 8.2
Veterinary drugs on Priority List. The U.S. supports and endorses inclusion of veterinary drugs on the Priority List of Veterinary Drugs for Evaluation or Re-Evaluation by JECFA,3 provided appropriate data are available for evaluation. The U.S. also recommends that Ractopamine be removed from the Priority List as the JECFA has completed their review of the existing residue depletion data for pigs.
Aquatic animal products. The U.S. supports continuation of work on the sampling plan for residue control for aquatic animal products and derived edible products of aquatic origin.
Risk analysis principles. The U.S. supports revising the Committee’s risk analysis principles to better address the use of veterinary drugs in animal feed.
Definition of “hazard.” The U.S. believes that the current definition of hazard adequately addresses the needs for risk analysis of veterinary drugs in foods.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 07/16/10 news, 10071556, for BP summary of FSIS announcing an August 16, 2010 meeting to inform the public of these draft positions.)
1The Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC or Codex) was established in 1963 by two United Nations organizations, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Through adoption of food standards, codes of practice, and other guidelines developed by its committees, and by promoting their implementation by governments, Codex seeks to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in food trade; and promote coordination of all food standards work undertaken by international governmental and nongovernmental organizations.
2In Step 8, following a final round of comments, Codex adopts the draft as a formal Codex text. The standard, guideline or other text is then published by the Codex Secretariat.
3JECFA stands for the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives.
Draft U.S. positions available by emailing documents@brokerpower.com