CQA Drug Use Policy Bolsters Food Safety Assurance
CANADA - Farm-Scape: Episode 1358. Farm-Scape is a Wonderworks Canada production and is distributed courtesy of Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork.
7 October 2003
3 minute read
  Farm-Scape is sponsored by
Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork  Play AudioFarm-Scape is a Wonderworks Canada production and is distributed courtesy of Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork. |
Farm-Scape, Episode 1358
The Canadian Pork Council says its new CQA Drug Use Policy adds a new level of assurance that drug residues are being kept out of the food chain.Under the Canadian Quality Assurance program's new drug use policy swine producers are no longer allowed to import drugs under the 'own use' provision of the food and drugs act and they are only allowed to use drugs approved for food producing animals.
National CQA Coordinator Dawn LeBlanc says the policy does leave room for some flexibility and many producers have already altered their drug use practices.
"We don't expect that this is going to greatly impact a large number of producers.
We've been discussing the drug use policy with producers and practitioners for quite some time now, well over a year, so the industry has been aware of our taking this direction within the CQA program.
A lot of producers, in discussion with their veterinarians during the course of implementing the CQA program, have made changes to their drug use practices.
The fact that producers can continue to use products approved for food producing animals other than hogs is going to be very helpful because they can continue to use, for example, cattle products under veterinary direction.
The veterinarians have access to the information they need for proper dosage so that the product is going to be effective and for proper withdrawal times so that we're not getting any residues into the food chain".
LeBlanc points out, while the drug use policy currently only applies to producers enrolled in CQA, Health Canada is reviewing several policies related to veterinary drugs...among them, the own use provision so the changes could ultimately apply to all producers.
She adds the drug use policy will be reviewed and updated to comply with any regulatory changes.
For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.
