One Health–Antimicrobial Resistance

Handling of Cases Where a Pig Producer Calls In Regarding Delivery of Slaughter Animals Prior to the End of the Withdrawal Period

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Abstract

Withdrawal periods are set to ensure that the concentration of residues of legal medicinals is below the maximum residue limits (MRL) when animals are delivered to slaughter. Very few human cases are reported dealing with adverse effects related to consumption of meat with residues of antimicrobial origin. This is presumably related to the low prevalence as well as the low concentration of these substances at the time of consumption of the meat. In the official Danish surveillance and the abattoirs’ own check of veterinary medicinals, the carcass is withheld pending the test result. If residues are found >MRL, the carcass is condemned. Occasionally, a pig producer calls the abattoir to inform that - by mistake - an animal has been delivered prior to the end of the withdrawal period. If the producer calls in time, the abattoir finds the animal in the lairage and ensures that it is not slaughtered but euthanized and destructed. However, if the animal is slaughtered, it may be difficult for the abattoirs to find the carcasses. In line, the by-products may be mixed with by-products from animals slaughtered on the same day.

How to Cite:

Dressling, A., Olsen, A. M., Peterson, J. V. & Alban, L., (2019) “Handling of Cases Where a Pig Producer Calls In Regarding Delivery of Slaughter Animals Prior to the End of the Withdrawal Period”, SafePork 13(1), 76–77. doi: https://doi.org//safepork.11184