Nov 21, 2017
Govt sets permissible limits for antibiotics use in chicken
FSSAI will direct poultry farms to adhere to good animal husbandry practices and monitor the use of antibiotics and veterinary drugs in meat and chicken, says CEO Pawan Kumar Agarwal
Maximum permissible limits of 37 antibiotics and 67 other veterinary drugs are prescribed for chicken, the health ministry said in a statement.
New Delhi: The Indian government is trying to make sure that the chicken on your plate is free of excessive antibiotics and veterinary drugs that may be harmful for human consumption.
The ministry of health has notified an amendment to the Food Safety & Standards (Contaminants, Toxins & Residues) Regulations, 2011, under which maximum permissible limits have been specified for the presence of antibiotics and other drugs in meat and meat products, including chicken.
“Maximum permissible limits of 37 antibiotics and 67 other veterinary drugs are prescribed for chicken,” the health ministry said in a statement on Monday.
The ministry, through the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has also sought comments from all stakeholders, including individual citizens. The comments will be placed for consideration before the scientific panel of the FSSAI on residues of pesticides and antibiotics.
“We will direct poultry farms to adhere to the good animal husbandry practices and monitor the use of antibiotics and veterinary drugs in meat and chicken,” said Pawan Kumar Agarwal, chief executive officer of FSSAI.
“Further, special food committees and food inspectors will also check the antibiotic levels in chicken used in food processing units. Though small shops will be a challenge, we are working in tandem with the animal husbandry department for effective implementation of new regulations,” Kumar said.
Perturbed by increasing anti-microbial resistance (AMR) in animals, which is indirectly being transmitted to people through meat and poultry products, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) recently wrote to the department of animal husbandry, seeking to regulate the use of antibiotics on animals.
“Irrational use of antibiotics indirectly tells upon human health. While the residues of antibiotics may pass on to humans through food and milk, diseased animals resistant to drugs are even a bigger problem,” said A.C. Dhariwal, director of NCDC.
The absence of stringent regulatory frameworks to limit the use of anti-microbial drugs in livestock and food animals, especially for non-therapeutic purposes such as growth stimulation, has been one of the drivers of overuse.
“Antibiotics are indiscriminately used in poultry. Animal growth promoters (drugs) are becoming a threat to the human health as their residues may pass on to humans through meat and poultry. The move by the health ministry to limit antibiotics in these foods was necessary,” said Avinash Srivastava, a New Delhi-based veterinary expert.
“India is lagging behind in controlling antibiotics in animals. Many countries have made their poultry products antibiotic-free...Several big food chains in US have already taken the initiative to provide drug-free chicken. Neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh are also going ahead in this direction,” he said.
In a recent study published in peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspective, researchers tested about 1,500 samples from 530 birds at 18 poultry farms across six districts of Punjab.
The study conducted by the Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy found that nearly two-thirds of the poultry and egg farms were using antibiotics. And these same farms are more than three times as likely to report multi-drug-resistant bacteria as farms that do not use antibiotics.
According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture poses a significant risk to human health. Researchers have noted a major transmission pathway of drug-resistant bacteria from food animals to humans.
FSSAI invites comments on draft to limit antibiotics in meat
This is being done to ensure that the residue of antibiotic in food from animal does not pose a threat to human health, said the draft notification issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
Food Safety regulatory FSSAI has sought public comments by December 6 on a draft to fix a tolerance limit of antibiotics and veterinary drugs in meat and meat products, the government said today.
This is being done to ensure that the residue of antibiotic in food from animal does not pose a threat to human health, said the draft notification issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
"This notification contains maximum permissible limits of various antibiotics in meat and meat products including chicken. Maximum permissible limits of 37 antibiotics and 67 other veterinary drugs are prescribed for chicken," the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.
The objections or suggestions have been invited from all stakeholders including general public by December 6. The comments received will be placed before a scientific panel.
"The recommendations of the scientific panel will be considered by a scientific committee and then the Food Authority for approval after which it will be notified," it added.
Globally, use of antibiotic and pharmacologically active substances are prohibited in food stuff of animal-origin including fish and fisheries products, the notification said.Further, there is ample evidence of development of antibiotic resistance in human pathogen, if these substances continue to come through food, it added.
Food safety dept steps up vigil
Alappuzha: Food safety commissioner Veena N Madhavan has made it mandatory for all temporary food stalls and food business operators (FBOs) involved in the manufacture, sale, distribution and retails of all types of food in and around Sabarimala region to obtain Food Safety and Standards Authority of India licence or registration.
She said that action would be initiated against all the outlets that violate Food Safety and Standards Act, at Sabarimala. "We have set up food testing and other infrastructure facilities in Sabarimala to ensure safe and quality food and water to pilgrims during Sabarimala pilgrimage season. As many as 35 loads of jaggery, 10 loads of rice, two loads of green gram dal, two loads of crystallised sugar and raisins, two loads of cumin seeds and two loads of dry ginger have already been subjected to testing. Action as per the Food Safety and Standards Act has been initiated against FBOs and distributors, who were found indulging in distribution and sale of misbranded -incorrect and incomplete label declaration - green gram dal and kalkandam (crystallised sugar) in the vicinity," she said.
The food safety commissioner said that the food safety team conduct the inspection when raw materials were sent from Pamba to Sannidhanam. The lab testing infrastructure has been strengthened at Pamba and Sannidhanam and six food analysts are working round the clock at both the destinations.
"Two mobile food testing labs will be stationed and made operational at Nilackal and Erumeli to test the drinking water supplied to pilgrims. This lab is equipped to conduct tests on milk, oil, packaged drinking water, food colours, common adulterants and spices. Through these units, 24 tests can be conducted on milk, nine on edible oil, 17 on spices and 11 on other foods to check for adulterants," Veena said.
Also, the department has taken steps to conduct periodic quality analysis of the drinking water supplied by the Kerala water authority, Travancore Devaswom Board and the Ayyappa Seva Sangham. Food safety officers are actively involved in the sampling of raw materials used for 'annadanam' provided by the devaswom board at Nilackal, Pamba and Sannidhanam.
"The samples so collected are sent to the district food testing laboratory at Pathanamthitta for analysis," she added.
Devotees can contact the department on two toll-free numbers (8592999666 & 18004251125).
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