Division 6.3.2.3 Assessment of consumer safety

Proposal for Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)

Setting of MRLs can be done by assuming that no significant differences in the content of residues occur in the edible tissues of minor species compared to a similar major species.

MRLs can be extrapolated within classes of animals as follows:

• from major growing ruminants to all growing ruminants;

• from milk of dairy cows to milk of other dairy ruminants;

• from pigs to all monogastric mammals, excluding horses;

• from chickens or turkeys to other poultry;

• from laying hens to other laying birds; and

• from Salmonidae to all fin fish.

MRLs for horses could be extrapolated when MRLs for a major ruminant and a major monogastric mammal exist.

If identical MRLs were derived in cattle (or sheep), pigs and chicken (or poultry), which represent major species with different metabolic capacities and tissue composition, the same MRLs can also be set for ovine, equidae and rabbits, which means an extrapolation is considered possible to all food-producing animals except fish. Considering the Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) guideline^f1 on the establishment of MRLs for Salmonidae and other finfish, which already allows an extrapolation from MRLs in muscle of a major species to Salmonidae and other finfish provided that the parent substances is acceptable as marker residue for the MRL in muscle and skin, MRLs can be extrapolated to all-food-producing animals.

Analytical methods shall be available for monitoring residues in edible tissue and products of all food-producing animals.