Brussels, 26 May 2011. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published the summary of its 2009 report on the results from the monitoring of veterinary medicinal product residues and other substances in live animals and animal products. The report, an EU overall assessment, includes all animal/animal product categories and is presented for each main substance group. The residue situation has been similar to the one in the two previous years for all substance groups.

“The low level of residues at just 0.32% out of 484,087 samples is very reassuring. Clearly, vets and farmers are complying with the withdrawal periods across the EU and the proactive campaigns to ensure responsible use along with penalty systems to discourage inappropriate use ensure food safety. We will continue to work with the authorities, including through EPRUMA, to ensure that these good results are repeated in the future", said Declan O' Brien, Managing Director of IFAH-Europe.

Read the EFSA summary of the report: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/pub/158e.htm

Download the full EFSA technical report: http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/doc/158e.pdf

Notes for editors

IFAH-Europe

IFAH-Europe is the representative body of manufacturers of veterinary medicines, vaccines and other animal health products in Europe.  It promotes a single market in veterinary medicines across the EU ensuring the availability of medicines to protect the health and welfare of animals. For further information on IFAH-Europe, please visit www.ifaheurope.org

See also the European Platform for the Responsible Use of Medicines in Animals, EPRUMA: www.epruma.eu

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For further press information please contact
Kim Hardie, Communications Director
Tel.: +32 2 543 75 75
E-mail:k.hardie@ifahsec.org

IFAH-Europe
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