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Bobby Calf Residues

Following a recent meeting between industry representatives, the Animal Products Group of MAF, and the ACVM Group, the following statement concerning the issues of chemical residues and, in particular, aminoglycosides in bobby calves was released:

"Several articles have been published in the past two months in relation to dry cow therapies and chemical residues in bobby calves.

New Zealand has had tight controls in place for several years to prevent the direct use of animal remedies on bobby calves and ensure bobby veal meat does not contain chemical residues that could jeopardise New Zealand trade.

In the past five years the low number of residue cases identified by MAF have been related to calves presenting pathological conditions and con-demned during ante- or post-mortem inspections. In most cases, residues were associated with misuse or accidental exposure to oral products.

Bobby calves may be exposed to chemical residues from animal rem-edies used on the cow. Guidelines were issued in the past on indirect exposure to chemical residues. These guidelines indicated that:
  1. if a cow calved within the meat withholding time of an animal remedy, the calf was eligible for slaughter only when the cow was eligible for slaughter;
  2. if a calf was exposed to contaminated milk, it should be fed residue free milk for seven days.

These guidelines need to be reviewed for risk products and reflect current scientific data available.

MAF will continue to investigate bobby calf residue findings and take actions based on the residue level, the source of contamination and the nature of offence committed.

If it is evidenced that residue levels in a bobby calf are due to dry cow therapy used in accordance with label instructions, farmers will not be prosecuted. Farmers are encouraged to keep accurate, up to date records in compliance with the product Safety Programme."

What Are ‘Acceptable’ Animal Remedy Residues and Withholding Periods?

The answer to this question is com-plex because there are three distinct places that specify residue limits in produce derived from livestock:

• the New Zealand (Maximum Residue Limits of Agricultural Compounds) Mandatory Food Standard 1999;
• the Meat Residue Regulations 1996; and
• the market access requirements of importing countries.

Taking them in order:
Either the specified residue limit or, if the Mandatory Food Standard has no MRL set for the active ingredient in question, the default MRL of 0.1 ppm applies.

Either the stated residue limit or, if the Meat Residue Regulations have no level formally set, their default provisions apply. If the active ingredient is not currently licensed as an animal remedy in New Zealand, the default in these regulations is 0.001 ppm. If it is licensed but being used ‘off label’ (in an animal not specified in the licence), the default is 0.01 ppm. If it is being used in the animal for which it is licensed, and no level is specified, the default is the same as in the Mandatory Food Standard (0.1 ppm).

In terms of market access requirements, residues are unacceptable if they exceed the tightest standard in one of New Zealand’s major export markets and, if it is likely that no residue levels have been set in any one of those major markets, the default is the limit of detection.

Therefore, the answer to the question is that the tightest of these three requirements apply and will be used in the assignment of a withholding period for products containing the active ingredient in question.

Two Month Deadline for Final Label Receipt

Where final labels are required to finalise any type of application, the standard two month period for final labels to be processed as part of the original application applies. If the labels are received within five working days of the deadline, we can accept them as part of the original application. There will be no extensions to this period. Any longer than that and they must be treated as a new C9 – Administrative Change application and the applicable fee of $364.50 (including GST) will be charged.