Assessment of the results of the Austrian residue control plan 2007

Monitoring of meat, milk, eggs and honey for residues of veterinary drugs and hormones is performed in Austria on the basis of a National Residue Control Plan (NRKP). The principal aims of the NRKP are to detect illegal use of prohibited or non-approved substances and to check that approved drugs are used lawfully. Furthermore, levels of various environmental contaminants are recorded (pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins etc.). Due to the low number of positive samples in comparison with the whole number of analysed samples it can be concluded, that normally there is no immediate health risk to consumers from residues of animal drugs. This doesn't make an implication to the ban on placing on the market in the case of undesirable residues. An acute or chronic risk to the consumers can not be excluded for banned and not authorized substances like Malachite green or chloramphenicole. It has to taken into account that repeated exposition to residues of antibiotics may lead to the development of resistances.AT;de;pdf;efsafocalpoint@ages.a