The ‘‘Animals, Meat and Meat Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) Regulations 1997’’ (as amended) control residues of animal medicines in food producing animals. The Regulations make it an offence ‘to sell or supply for slaughter any animal for human consumption, if the withdrawal period in respect of any animal medicine which has been administered to the animal has not expired’. The legislation is applied to the animal keeper, but any person who supplies animal medicines is liable to claims for meat losses, fines or penalties if incorrect withdrawal periods are advised.

To summarise, the Regulations, in relation to the use of animal medicines:

In addition, under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2006 it is an offence to administer any animal medicine to an animal unless that product has a marketing authorisation authorising its administration in the UK and the administration is in accordance with that marketing authorisation. However, in cases where no authorised product exists for a condition in a particular species, and in order to prevent unnecessary suffering, a veterinarian may prescribe certain other products in accordance with the conditions of the prescribing‘cascade’, set out in Schedule 4 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations. For food-producing animals treated under the provisions of the cascade, there is a requirement that only medicines whose ingredients have been assessed for residues safety can be used, and specified records must be kept by the veterinarian.

Further details of the requirements of both sets of Regulations, along with publication material, including two plasticised wall posters on residue requirements for use on farms (one covers red meat, the other poultry and eggs), are available from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3LS. Telephone No: 01932 336911.

Those selling animal medicines should take every opportunity to remind their clients about their responsibilities under these Regulations and also impress upon them that the Regulations require the use of all administered medicines to be recorded.

NOAH (in conjunction with the Animal Health Distributors Association, AHDA) has produced a record book to enable farmers to meet their responsibilities for record keeping. Copies of the record book are available from NOAH (telephone 020 8367 3131). For bulk orders, contact AHDA (telephone 01394 410444).