RESIDUE MONITORING AND CONTROL PROGRAM Dr. T. Bergh Acting Director: Veterinary Public Health Department Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Scope of Presentation
Introduction Roles Residue control programmes (In General) Types of residue monitoring Activities Competent Authorities and Laws that govern food safety (Residues)
National Residue Program: South Africa
Residue Control Programme National Residue Monitoring Programme
Residue Program Results Future Programs Introduction
An important aspect of food safety (animal derived food) is the
These residue that are present in foodstuffs can be:
intentionally added (i.e. food additives, or the illegal addition for adulterant
are present as residues from defined uses (e.g. pesticides and veterinary
or are contaminants (formed during production, processing, storage or
Adverse effect on consumers due to these residues:
Chronic toxicological adverse effects; Allergic reactions. (Acute pharmacological effects on consumers and on the
microflora of the gastrointestinal tract of consumers)
Assurance of food safety is the responsibility of a number of
entities: Business operators/ commercial entities involved in the
production, processing and marketing of food.-The RSA Acts identity these entities as the primary responsible person.
Competent Authorities that: (secondary auditing and verification)
− are responsible for providing consumer assurances for foods− regulate the use of veterinary drugs, − verify that appropriate practices are applied and that effective
measures are in place within the veterinary drug distribution and food production system to provide effective protection of consumers and facilitate trade,
− regulate and control registration of animal medicines. Residue control programmes
All Programmes for the control of residues in foods should:
Be based on risk using realistic risk profiles assessed as reasonably likely to be associated with food derived from the relevant productions system(s);
Be prevention focussed based on the realistic risk profiles
associated with the probable or known use of approved, non-approved and prohibited veterinary drugs in the production system;
Include regulatory measures proportionate to the relative human
health risk associated with these hazards compared with other food-associated hazards;
Residue control programmes
Ensure all parties involved in the production, marketing and
processing system of the animals and/or the food products derived from them are held accountable to ensure that unsafe animal products will not be sold as a result of their action or inaction;
Recognise that pre-harvest controls and practices are the primary
Recognise that the primary role of audits and sampling
programmes is to verify the implementation and effectiveness of the pre-harvest controls and practices;
Be cost effective and have the support of stakeholders. Types of residue monitoring Activities
Activities carried out as part of a residue and contaminant control programme
include monitoring, directed sampling, compliance testing, pre-market surveys, post-market surveys and all other data gathering activities. Monitoring:
− a statistically-based, unbiased, random sampling, processing and analysis of
samples to provide profile information on the occurrence and/or levels of chemical residues in pre-defined, normal sample populations.
− Monitoring activities are particularly useful for discerning residue trends and
identifying potential areas where directed sampling might be indicated.
− focussed, directed at targeted sample populations (e.g. commodity types, or
geographical areas) to investigate and verify any suspected problems of potential health risk suggested in the monitoring programme. Directed sampling is investigative in nature, and can trigger detention of product pending risk assessment and compliance action
Types of residue monitoring Activities
− is directed at specific samples suspected of not complying with specific
regulations and guidelines governing the sale and distribution of food.
− The product is detained until the test results are available to determine the
− is a regulatory control measure to prevent the marketing, or to support the
removal from the market of a product that poses a health risk to the consumer.
− are used to gather information about the occurrence of residues not meeting
the requirement of other programme components (i.e. monitoring, compliance). For example, initial surveys or surveys for components outside of the health and safety criteria might be included here.
− These are usually limited in scope and duration
Types of residue monitoring Activities
− are used to obtain a snapshot in time. − The scheduling of blitzes is unannounced. For example, a blitz
may allow for the sampling of every herd presented for slaughter for a specified, usually short, period of time not exceeding 2 to 6 weeks.
− is undertaken for specific situations where legal action is the
− Certain additional criteria are demanded during the sampling
submission and laboratory testing of these samples.
− Adherence to all quality assurance measures is essential. − Legal advice should be sought prior to the initiation of such
Competent Authorities and Laws that govern food safety (Residues/ Animal derived food)
The Meat Safety Act (Act 40 of 2000): DAFF
This Act is administered by the Directorate: Veterinary Public Health in the Department
of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries and enforced by the Departments of Agriculture of the nine provinces. It addresses, amongst others, meat safety and hygiene standards and regulates the importation and exportation of unprocessed meat.
The Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972): DoH
This Act governs the manufacture, sale and importation of foodstuffs, cosmetics and
disinfectants from a safety/public health point of view and is administered by the Directorate: Food Control of the Department of Health and enforced by local authorities in their areas of jurisdiction.
The Standards Act, 1993 (Act 29 of 1993): SABS
This Act is administered by the SABS and has compulsory specifications that address
canned meat and fish products, as well as frozen seafood. Competent Authorities and Laws that govern food safety (Residues)
The Consumer Protection Act (Act 68 of 2008) promulgated on 24 April 2009
protects consumers from hazards to their well being and safety. promotes and protects the economic interests of consumers improves access to information necessary for consumers to make informed choices
Those that regulate and control the availability of veterinary medicines also have
an indirect responsibility to food safety (Maximum Residue Limit determination/ Withdrawal periods determination)
Medicines and Related substances Control Act, 1965 (Act No 101 of 1965, as
Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947
(Act 36 of 1947) and its regulations. Applicants should ensure that they are aware of their obligations under Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act 36 of 1947) and other Acts. National Residue Program: South Africa
National Residue Control Program National Residue Monitoring Program
National Residue Monitoring Program Objective of the program
− To ensure consumer confidence. − assess the effectiveness of South African controls and practices
which ensure that the chemical residue status of foods of animal origin is safe, sound and wholesome and complies with the regulatory tolerances;
− identify the illegal or non-compliant use of agricultural
chemicals and veterinary products in animal production;
Residue Control Programme
Export Residue Control programThe Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is mandated
to give assurance to certain countries (EU and Middle Eastern Countries) that Animal and Animal Products produced in South Africa comply with rules/requirements laid down by the importing country
The importing country prescribes the Residue Control Programme
Production\export statistics are used to determine the number of
samples to be collected for the programme and also per export approved abattoir.
All ostrich, Game and Crocodile abattoirs are subject to strict
Residue Control Programme
Currently seven Ostrich export abattoirs, four Game Processing
plants and two Crocodile abattoirs are registered.
Ostrich and Game farms are also subject to an inspection and
Tissue samples are collected at these registered abattoirs and
Serum and Feed samples on the registered farms
Samples are collected monthly over a period of one year. National Residue Monitoring Programme
Focuses on National market and non-EU export market
High throughput Abattoirs and Abattoirs approved to export animal products to
neighbouring countries in all provinces participate in the programme
Guidelines set by the Codex Alimentarius Committee were used to compile the
The programme makes provision for analysis of the following commodities:
Tissue samples of Poultry, Pork, Cattle and Sheep; collected at the abattoirs Milk samples; collected, out of the bulk tank, on farms that supply export
approve establishments or other Dairies that supply the local market
Egg samples; collected of the major table egg producers Honey samples are collected at major apiaries in different Provinces
National Residue Monitoring Programme
Sample collection for the Residue Monitoring Programme
Abattoirs – Meat inspectors (IMQAS) or Provincial Meat inspectors in charge of
Farms (milk) – Animal Health Technicians in charge of an area in the different
Honey Bottling stations – National officials Egg packing stations – National officials
Tissue and Serum samples collected also analysed for the following substances:
Veterinary Drug Hormones/Growth promoters Pesticides Heavy metals
Coordinating Laboratories.
Daff has appointed ARC-OVI as the National Residue Reference laboratory.
The following laboratories take part in the programme:
National Horse Racing Club South African Bureau of Standards University of the Free State – Pharmacology Department ARC – Institute of Soil Climate and Water
Residue Program Results
All non Compliant results – Residue Control programme –
sent to the Provincial Director which will then ask the State Veterinarian in
Corrective measures put in place Farm might be taken of the Ostrich export list
All non compliant results for the Residue Monitoring Programme
will also be sent to the Provincial Director to investigate Corrective measures put in place
The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has an agreement with the
ARC-OVI residue laboratory to receive, register and distribute the samples to the different laboratories
Residue Control Programme Results National Residue Monitoring Programme Results
5 samples Non-Compliant (Above National MRLs)
1 sample Non-Compliant (Above National MRLs)
Future Programs
The Department of Agriculture is advocating for the full implementation of residue
This program is to ensure the quality and safety of foods of animal origin and
other food commodities for public health safety.
It is to address all areas around chemical residues in animal products
− the national residue program− the import residue program (Sampling at the port-of-entry) and − export residue program
− the “Guidance for the Design And Implementation of National Regulatory
Food Safety Assurance Programme Associated with the use of Veterinary
Drugs in Food Producing Animals” adopted by CODEX.
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