NPB Reminds Producers of Voluntary 14-day Withdrawal Period for all Tetracycline, Oxytetracycline and Chlortetracycline Products...

NPB Reminds Producers of Voluntary 14-day Withdrawal Period for all Tetracycline, Oxytetracycline and Chlortetracycline Products

The National Pork Board (NPB) is urging producers to review their use of feed/water tetracycline-class antibiotics (tetracycline, oxytetracycline or chlortetracycline) to ensure their use of these products meets standards established by some U.S. trading partners.

Pork producers are required to adhere to animal health-product withdrawal standards that meet U.S. maximum residue limits.  These standards were determined through science-based testing by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure the safety of all products entering the national food chain. However, some countries that import U.S. pork may have withdrawal requirements that exceed those established by FDA.

In a recent NPB news release, Steve Larsen, director of food safety for the Pork Checkoff, reminded producers of these important points:

• Individual countries determine their own tissue residue limits. Not all countries agree with the maximum tissue residue limits set by the U.S. government, even though U.S. limits are based on scientifically sound food-safety data.
• Producers are reminded to follow the voluntary 14-day withdrawal period for all feed/water tetracycline class antibiotics.   However, producers should follow the labeled directions for injectable tetracycline class antibiotic products. Based on currently available information, a withdrawal of 14 days when using feed or water forms of tetracycline class antibiotics should meet the residue limits established by pork-importing countries.
• Producers should talk with their packer to understand the packer’s policy if a residue greater than the tolerance for the international market is detected. 
• Producers should also work with their veterinarian to consider product choices in the finisher phase and to develop appropriate treatment and withdrawal protocols.

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The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.

NPB Reminds Producers of Voluntary 14-day Withdrawal Period for all Tetracycline, Oxytetracycline and Chlortetracycline Products

The National Pork Board (NPB) is urging producers to review their use of feed/water tetracycline-class antibiotics (tetracycline, oxytetracycline or chlortetracycline) to ensure their use of these products meets standards established by some U.S. trading partners.

Pork producers are required to adhere to animal health-product withdrawal standards that meet U.S. maximum residue limits.  These standards were determined through science-based testing by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure the safety of all products entering the national food chain. However, some countries that import U.S. pork may have withdrawal requirements that exceed those established by FDA.

In a recent NPB news release, Steve Larsen, director of food safety for the Pork Checkoff, reminded producers of these important points:

• Individual countries determine their own tissue residue limits. Not all countries agree with the maximum tissue residue limits set by the U.S. government, even though U.S. limits are based on scientifically sound food-safety data.
• Producers are reminded to follow the voluntary 14-day withdrawal period for all feed/water tetracycline class antibiotics.   However, producers should follow the labeled directions for injectable tetracycline class antibiotic products. Based on currently available information, a withdrawal of 14 days when using feed or water forms of tetracycline class antibiotics should meet the residue limits established by pork-importing countries.
• Producers should talk with their packer to understand the packer’s policy if a residue greater than the tolerance for the international market is detected. 
• Producers should also work with their veterinarian to consider product choices in the finisher phase and to develop appropriate treatment and withdrawal protocols.

# # #

The U.S. Meat Export Federation (www.USMEF.org) is the trade association responsible for developing international markets for the U.S. red meat industry and is funded by USDA, exporting companies, and the beef, pork, corn and soybean checkoff programs.