5th Veterinary Residues Committee Open Meeting – Nov 08

This Committee is made up of independents, not representatives for any sector. They cover a wide range of skills e.g. food safety, toxicology, agriculture, retailing, fish farming, consumers, veterinary science, sampling officers, pharmaceutical industry.

Aim of Committee
Give an independent voice, interpreting results and communicating significant to the public.

This aspects to Surveillance that Committee undertakes – statutory and non-statutory. More than 38,000 statutory analysis undertaken in 2007 testing UK produce. This is paid for by levy. Non-statutory scheme tests imports (some 5800 in 2008). This is financed by Government.

Open Meetings are held to communicate work to the public. First three meetings were held in London, fourth in Belfast, Cardiff next year.

Objectives of the day –
1. Results for 2008 so far
2. Review consultation on the surveillance of imported and processed foods.
3. Brand name update
4. Question and Answer session.

Results from samples taken up until 20th October. Most sampling takes place in the first 10 months but focuses on turkey in December.

This statutory surveillance found all sorts of residues in meat slaughtered but none at any great number of incidences. Examples of residues found – steroid screen, progesterone, testosterone, zeranol, antimicrobials, avermerctins, ibuprofen. Nicarbazin in poultry appeared to be one of the great concerns. The poultry industry has suggested this is because birds are being killed younger in GB to allow supermarkets to sell chickens at the same price as last year. There is no human hrealth problem from nicarbazin.

Non Statutory Surveillance Programme
This programme looks at imported and processed foods. It provides information on foods that do not fall within the scope of National Surveillance scheme. The samples for the programme are purchased from retail outlets by Mintel and from Billingsgate market by market inspectors/ Samples are also taken from consignments entering the UK at Border Inspection Posts by Port Health Officers.

Samples for the 20008 rolling programme are being collected from April 2008 to January 2009. The programme covers imports of crustaceans, farmed fish, raw poultry, raw beef and poultry liver pate. (Consultation for inclusion in the 2009 programme agreed continued surveillance of imported poultry and imported red meat (among others)) Farmed fish are a particular problem, as was honey.

2008 Brand Naming Survey
Focus is on poultry products particularly focussed on children consumer products – nuggets, chicken pops, dippers, burgers, chunks, strips and ready to use diced chicken. No positives were found.

Communications:-
Consumer leaflet is available to explain how hormones and antibiotics are kept out of the food chain. These leaflets should be included in support material for Scottish Meat Training Trainees and as a one off distributed through SFMTA newsletter. The leaflet strikes a good balance without being too technical.