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Chlorfluazuron. Potential residue problem in Australian beef recognized. Animal Health, 1994


AnimalHealth Australia - 1994

http://www.aahc.com.au/status/ahiareport/1994/aahr9405.htm

Chlorfluazuron

In late October 1994, authorities and industry in Australia became aware of a potential residue problem in beef from the chemical chlorfluazuron. Contamination was a direct consequence of feeding cotton trash to cattle in New South Wales and Queensland to overcome the critical feed shortage caused by the severe drought then affecting the eastern half of Australia.

After consultation with industry, government authorities progressively instituted a range of control measures to deal with the risk of chlorfluazuron residues in beef for both domestic and export markets. Control measures included the discontinuation of the feeding of cotton trash, identification of farms where cotton trash had been fed to cattle (and, where necessary, restricting movement of cattle from those properties), 100% lot testing of cattle from areas at risk, testing of beef produced from areas at risk before the control program commenced, and provision of advice to farmers in the affected areas.

Although major export beef markets accepted the Australian response as appropriate and effective, there were significant disruptions to exports. Except in North America, special endorsements were required on health certificates for exported beef to confirm it had been subjected to the chlorfluazuron control program. Clearance of product that had already been shipped or was in the pipeline was contingent on strict sampling and negative results on analytical testing.

The control measures proved to be very effective in identifying the scope of the problem and preventing the occurrence of significant chlorfluazuron residues in beef. Extensive testing showed that cattle from 98% of about 13 000 properties in the area at risk had no residues of chlorfluazuron and very few had residues above the Australian maximum residue level.