VICH Food Safety Working Group

The VICH Food Safety Working Group, which is working on international guidelines on toxicology data requirements for veterinary medicines used in food producing animals, met in Japan in April. The group is a mixture of Government and industry experts. John Reeve attends as an observer from Australia and New Zealand, with full participation in discussions and decisions made.

The Japan meeting signed off on two Guidelines (on genotoxicity and reproductive toxicity), which are now to go for official comment. Good progress was made on many other Guidelines, and the next meeting (to be held in Wellington over three days during the period 14-17 November) should be very productive in finalising these. In particular, recommendations on estimating ADIs from microbiological endpoints (to be formulated in a meeting of experts being held in Washington, July 24 - 27; Australia and New Zealand will be represented by Dr Gladwin Roberts from the Australian TGA), and Guidelines on carcinogenicity testing are expected to be progressed well.

John Reeve (phone 04 460 8733) would welcome interest from possible sponsors to support a Group visit to either Martinborough or Marlborough wineries on the ‘lay’ day (probably Thursday, 16 November).