Day 091 - 17 Feb 95 - Page 37


     
     1
     2   Q.   What were they?
     3        A.  Their reasons for banning drugs are usually if there is
     4        any concern to the people, the operators using that
     5        compound, and also for the safety of the general public.
     6        What is normally required when an antibiotic is registered,
     7        or a new requirement for an antibiotic being registered, is
     8        that the firm registering that antibiotic has to
     9        demonstrate what is called a "maximum residue limit" which
    10        is the residue limit, the maximum limit of drug that could
    11        be found in a meat producing animal and they have to
    12        demonstrate that there is a withdrawal time which will make
    13        that product free of antibiotic.
    14
    15        The instruction in Europe at the moment, certainly in this
    16        country, is that the manufacturers of Furazolodone must
    17        provide residue limits by July 1995 if that compound is
    18        going to become fully registered, so there is not a
    19        total --
    20
    21   Q.   Is it allowed to be used in the meantime?
    22        A.  It can still be used.
    23
    24   Q.   Is it not right that in 1992 a joint United Nations World
    25        Health Organisation Committee said it could not set a safe
    26        level for residues of this drug in animals?
    27        A.  This is correct.
    28
    29   Q.   Is it right that they found low levels in chicken flesh and
    30        eggs several days after the drug was administered?
    31        A.  You will find levels of any antibiotic after it has
    32        been administered.  The important thing is to withdraw the
    33        antibiotic in time before the animal is slaughtered so that
    34        the meat is free of residue.
    35
    36   Q.   But is it normal to find antibiotics in low level residues
    37        in the meat several days after it was administered?
    38        A.  It is normal to find -- the purpose of an antibiotic is
    39        for treatment and, by definition, it circulates around the
    40        blood stream and gets to all the tissues of the body.  So,
    41        after treatment there will be residues, depending on the
    42        tissue, which will be present for a while after treatment.
    43        The important thing is to withdraw the treatment in time
    44        for the residues to clear before that meat goes for human
    45        consumption.
    46
    47   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  You are being asked if residues can remain
    48        for several days.  We may go on to find out how long but
    49         ----
    50        A.  Again it depends on the antibiotic but it can be a few 
    51        days.  In the case of Furazolodone residues have been 
    52        shown, I believe, for up to 48 hours.  In the case of 
    53        chloratetracycline for up to 72 hours.  It depends on the
    54        antibiotic.
    55
    56   MS. STEEL:   When the MAFF test for antibiotic residues, do they
    57        actually check that there is none there whatsoever, or do
    58        they have a limit that it must not be over?
    59        A.  They do the test.  They send us the results which will
    60        show whether there is any residue, whether there is no

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