VPT 421: Veterinary Toxicology (2+0)

CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR RESIDUE PREVENTION

The control systems for residue prevention should include the following measures:

• Identifying and tracking animals to which drugs were administered, in order to preclude the sale of edible animal tissue, milk, or eggs containing illegal residues.
• Maintaining a system of medication/treatment records that, at a minimum, identifies the animal(s) treated (individual animals, pens, lots, etc.), the date(s) of treatment, the drug(s) administered, who administered the drug(s), the amount administered, and the withdrawal time prior to slaughter (and when milk, eggs, etc. can be used, if appropriate).
• Properly storing, labeling, and accounting of all drug products and medicated feeds.
• Obtaining and using veterinary prescription drugs only through a licensed veterinarian based on a valid veterinarian/client/patient relationship.
• Educating all employees and family members involved in treating, and selling the animals on proper administration techniques, observance of withdrawal times, and methods to avoid marketing adulterated products for human food.
• Veterinarians who practice food animal medicine have a great responsibility to ensure that food of animal origin complies with pure food laws relating to their acceptable levels of drug residues. Drugs not registered for animal use should not be used and, for those that are, the legal withdrawal times must be observed.