Residues of antimicrobial drugs and feed additives in animal products: regulatory aspects

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to summarize the current legislation for the usage of veterinary medicinal products in the European Union, with special attention to safety requirements. There appears to be a wider acceptance of concept of risk analysis in regulatory assessment. Regulatory systems are in force to ensure that residues of drugs and their metabolites in meat do not exceed dangerous thresholds. This paper presents the standard approach to assessing the safety of chemical contaminants in foodstuffs of animal origin intended for human consumption. This work also discusses the current progress in antimicrobial feed additives and its safety harmonization in the European Union. The antimicrobial feed additives, coccidiostats and other medicinal products authorized within the European Union (additive/species of animal, maximum age, content in complete feed, withdrawal period) are presented in tables. Future residue requirements for feed additives are discussed. Considerations on the potential effect of glycopeptides (avoparcin), macrolides (tylosin, spiramycin) and streptogramines (virginiamycin) on bacterial antimicrobial resistance development are introduced. Finally, pharmacokinetic and residue data of several families of antimicrobial compounds such as quinolones, tetracyclines and amoxycilline in poultry and pigs are presented. These data are needed for the assessment of the use safety of these veterinary drugs in food-producing animals.