CAC/GL 71-2009 Guidelines for the Design and Implementation of National Regulatory Food Safety Assurance Programmes Associated with the Use of Veterinary Drugs in Food Producing Animals
INTRODUCTION
1. Modern food production systems should be designed and managed to ensure that the exposure of food producing animals to veterinary drugs does not pose a risk to human health.
2. The commercial entities involved in the production and marketing of food have the primary responsibility for ensuring food safety. The role of competent authorities is to control the use of veterinary drugs and to verify that appropriate practices are being applied and effective measures are in place within the veterinary drug distribution and food production systems to provide effective protection for consumer health and ensure fair practice in the food trade, consistent with the goals of Codex Alimentarius. All parties also have a responsibility to provide consumers information and education to facilitate sound choice of food products of animal origin.
3. The application of a programme based on risk to all food types should provide the controls and verification consistent with the risk that the food type may pose to consumers. The application of an approach based on risk across all food groups and hazard classes should allow a more focussed application of resources to those areas which are most likely to generate real human health protection gains.
4. Risk profiles for different hazards may vary by country, region, species and/or production system. The application of a control and verification assurance programme based on risk should provide the necessary basis for exporting countries to certify the safety of exported food, and for importing countries to have the confidence to accept such consignments.
5. It is recognized that in particular developing countries may need a transition period and/or technical assistance regarding the full implementation of these Guidelines.
