Evaluation of Certain Veterinary Drug Residues in Food

This report represents the conclusions of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee convened to evaluate the safety of residues of certain veterinary drugs in food and to recommend maximum levels for such residues in food.

The first part of the report considers general principles regarding the evaluation of veterinary drugs within the terms of reference of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), including comments on documents under elaboration for the Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF), information on registration/approval status of veterinary drugs, extrapolation of maximum residue limits (MRLs), dietary exposure assessment methodologies, the decision-tree approach to the evaluation of residues of veterinary drugs and guidance for JECFA experts.

Summaries follow of the Committee's evaluations of toxicological and residue data on a variety of veterinary drugs: two antimicrobial agents (amoxicillin, apramycin), an antiparasitic agent (derquantel), three anthelminthics (ivermectin, monepantel, triclabendazole) and two antimicrobial agents and production aids (monensin and narasin). Annexed to the report is a summary of the Committee's recommendations on these drugs, including acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) and proposed MRLs.