Press Releases

Second phase control on feeding chemicals to food animals takes effect
Thursday, January 30, 2003

The second phase of the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Chemical Residues) Regulation takes effect from tomorrow (January 31) to step up regulation of feeding of chemicals to food animals including livestock and poultry.

A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said, "The second phase extends control to another nine chemicals prescribed with maximum residue limits (MRLs) in meat, offal and milk.

"These nine chemicals are carbadox, dihydrostreptomycin, dimetridazole, furaltadone, furazolidone, josamycin, metronidazole, stretomycin and trimethoprim," he said.

To ensure public health, the Government implemented the first phase of the Regulation on December 31 2001 to cover seven prohibited chemicals and 10 chemicals prescribed with MRLs. The control scope will now be extended to another nine chemicals with MRLs.

The spokesman said it would be an offence for farmers and traders to keep food animals containing the seven prohibited chemicals or to supply food animals or milk containing the 19 chemicals exceeding the prescribed MRLs.

It would also be an offence for food animal farmers and traders to possess prohibited chemicals or fodder containing any prohibited chemical. Anyone supplying such chemicals or fodder to food animal farmers and traders would also be committing an offence. The maximum fine for these offences is $100,000.

Under the Regulation, the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation is empowered to suspend supply of and to recall food animals or fodder that are suspected of chemical contamination.

"We have provided training to farmers and traders to facilitate compliance with the controls and will continue to do so," the spokesman added.

To tie in with the second phase implementation of the Public Health (Animals and Birds) (Chemical Residues) Regulation, we will concurrently extend control under the Harmful Substances in Food Regulations to the same nine additional chemicals prescribed with the same maximum concentrations levels in meat, offal and milk.