Evaluation of certain food additives and contaminants : 35th report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives

This report presents the conclusions of an expert committee commissioned to conduct systematic toxicological evaluations of selected veterinary drug residues that may be found in edible animal products.

These evaluations are used to determine safe levels of these residues for human consumption.

Acceptable daily intakes and maximum residue limits are issued for three anthelminthic drugs, two growth promoters, and two antimicrobial agents. The first part of the report explains several methodological issues that are specific to the safety assessment of veterinary drug residues in food.

Principles discussed include the steps followed when establishing maximum residue limits for compounds and the procedures used to evaluate the toxicological significance of drug residues bound to cellular constituents in animal tissues.

The report also explains basic principles for evaluating the specific risks associated with the antimicrobial activity of veterinary drug residues and for assessing the potential of drug residues to provoke allergic reactions in consumers. The main part of the report summarizes evaluations of toxicological data pertaining to the safety and residues of three anthelminthic drugs (closantel, ivermectin, and levamisole) and two antimicrobial drugs used to promote growth in pigs (carbadox and olaquindox).

The report also re-evaluates the safety and residues of two antimicrobial agents (benzylpencillin and oxytetracycline).