EU Removes Testing Requirement for Nitrofurans

The Nitrofuran testing requirement for beef and pork exports to the European Union (EU) has been removed.  This is welcome news for the industry, since Nitrofurans are not permitted in the treatment of food animals in the U.S. and the cost of testing was an unnecessary expense.

USMEF has been working with the USDA since 2006 to reduce the testing requirements set by the EU. USMEF gave the USDA a list of residues for which the EU required testing and which were neither used nor allowed in the U.S. In 2006, the EU required tests for eight different residues in pork and nine in beef. Thanks to efforts by USMEF and the USDA, the EU now requires residue tests for one product in pork and six in beef — all are growth promotants prohibited for use in the EU.

“The end of testing for Nitrofurans and the reduction in the products tested for in the last two years will save the industry a little money and make it easier for U.S. companies to export meat to the EU.” said Courtney Heller, USMEF manager, export services.

Sampling frequency is increased in 2009 for both pork (from 73 to 81) and beef (from 6 to 13) from 2008. The sample numbers are calculated as a percentage of U.S. exports from the previous year, and were increased because U.S. beef and pork exports to the EU increased in 2008.  The most recent figures (January to November 2008) show a 54 percent increase in the volume of U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports to the EU to 18,850 metric tons and a 115 percent increase in their value to $92.9 million. The same figures record a 146 percent increase in U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports (44,764 metric tons) and a 136 percent increase in value to $125.6 million.

The 2009 EU Additional Residue Testing Program for U.S. Meat/Game was posted in the online FSIS Export Library yesterday as Table 1: EU Residue Sampling Frequency for Red Meat. 

The Nitrofuran testing requirement for beef and pork exports to the European Union (EU) has been removed.  This is welcome news for the industry, since Nitrofurans are not permitted in the treatment of food animals in the U.S. and the cost of testing was an unnecessary expense.

USMEF has been working with the USDA since 2006 to reduce the testing requirements set by the EU. USMEF gave the USDA a list of residues for which the EU required testing and which were neither used nor allowed in the U.S. In 2006, the EU required tests for eight different residues in pork and nine in beef. Thanks to efforts by USMEF and the USDA, the EU now requires residue tests for one product in pork and six in beef — all are growth promotants prohibited for use in the EU.

“The end of testing for Nitrofurans and the reduction in the products tested for in the last two years will save the industry a little money and make it easier for U.S. companies to export meat to the EU.” said Courtney Heller, USMEF manager, export services.

Sampling frequency is increased in 2009 for both pork (from 73 to 81) and beef (from 6 to 13) from 2008. The sample numbers are calculated as a percentage of U.S. exports from the previous year, and were increased because U.S. beef and pork exports to the EU increased in 2008.  The most recent figures (January to November 2008) show a 54 percent increase in the volume of U.S. beef (including variety meat) exports to the EU to 18,850 metric tons and a 115 percent increase in their value to $92.9 million. The same figures record a 146 percent increase in U.S. pork (including variety meat) exports (44,764 metric tons) and a 136 percent increase in value to $125.6 million.

The 2009 EU Additional Residue Testing Program for U.S. Meat/Game was posted in the online FSIS Export Library yesterday as Table 1: EU Residue Sampling Frequency for Red Meat.