Occurrence Of Veterinary Drug Residues In Livestock From Peninsular Malaysia

M.R Marzura, S. Marni and A.A. Eddy

Results of the monitoring programme in livestock conducted by the Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia in the period of 2010 to 2011 are presented. Over a 2-year period, tissue samples were analyzed for a number of veterinary drugs. These included tetracycline, sulphonamide, quinolones, ?-lactam, aminoglycoside, macrolide, chlornmphenicol and nitrofuran. More than 86 and 97 % of the samples screened were found to be free of any veterinary drugs residue in porcine and poultry, respectively. Results from the monitoring of antibacterial residues in tissue of porcine, poultry and bovine for 2010 – 2011 showed that 86, 97 and 100 % samples of pig, poultry and bovine, respectively, collected from slaughter houses and processing plants were in compliance with Malaysian Food Regulation 1985. Risk-based approach for residue surveillance recommended by EU could be introduced to increase the cost-effectiveness of the current monitoring program. This could promote further reduction in antibacterial residue prevalence in Malaysia, particularly in porcine.