Veterinary Medicine Residues
Developing and validating analytical methods to detect and quantify veterinary drug residues in food and feed, the team supports national and international regulators in protecting public health. This work underpins vital surveillance programmes, helping to ensure veterinary medicinal products (VMPs) are used safely and responsibly.
The objective of the team is to develop, validate and implement methodology to both detect and determine the fate of veterinary drugs residues (often also used in human medicine) in food and feed samples. This work is primarily on behalf of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), a branch of Defra responsible for regulation and safety of VMPs used in GB. Other clients include the UK Food Standards Agency and commercial clients from manufacturing and food industries.
Use of VMPs benefit animal health, welfare and public health by preventing and treating diseased animals. The National Surveillance Scheme (NSS) for veterinary medicine residues is a statutory scheme under which targeted samples from farms, slaughterhouses and other food processors are analysed for the presence of residues arising from use of VMPs. The aim of the NSS is also to protect and improve the safety of the food people eat. Surveillance combined with the effective enforcement, investigation and inspection activities ensures the safe and effective use of VMPs in GB.
Fera's NRL Role and Responsibilities
Fera is the National Reference Laboratory for a variety of group A and B substances according to EFSA residue classification.
Testing of all GB samples under CDR (EU) 2022/1644 & CIR (EU) 2022/1646
Details of UK residue detection history under the NSS can be found here.
Method Validation
Methods should be validated to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808 or validated to previous regulation 2002/657/EC: Commission Decision of 12 August 2002 implementing Council Directive 96/23/EC working towards the new guidance. Transitional regulation Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/810 outlines the live date 2002/657/EC will be repealed in the EU.
- Key parameters of validation are Decision limit (CCα) and Detection capability (CCβ).
- Confirmed residue concentrations greater than established CCα are regarded as non-complaint (positive), with exception of compounds listed in Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1871.
- Confirmation is based on identification point criteria as set out in aforementioned validation guidance. The strict point system is to negate the risk of any false identified residues.
Resources
DG Health and Consumers: Laboratory Analysis
Information is available on how laboratory analysis has to be carried out and results are interpreted from DG Health and Consumers: Residues of Veterinary Medicinal Products - Laboratory Analysis
Guidance for Screening Methods
Guidelines for the validation of screening methods for residues of veterinary medicines: this guideline document supplements Commission Decision 2002/657/EC regarding the validation of screening methods (initial validation and transfer) is available from DG Health and Consumers: Residues of Veterinary Medicinal Products - Laboratory Analysis
Competent Authority
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is the competent authority in GB for VMPs. Further guidance and information on GB and NI Legislation can be found here.
Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)
Regulation (EC) No. 470/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 May 2009, lays down theCommunity procedures for the establishment of residue limits of pharmacologically active substances in foodstuffs of animal origin, repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2377/90 and amending Directive 2001/82/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No. 726/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council).
Current MRLs are listed in Commission Regulation (EU) No. 37/2010 of 22 December 2009 on pharmacologically active substances and their classification regarding maximum residue limits in foodstuffs of animal origin.
Hormone Legislation
Directive 2008/97/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 amending Council Directive 96/22/EC concerning the prohibition on the use in stock farming of certain substances having a hormonal or thyrostatic action and of beta-agonists is available in the related documents section.
Banned Substances