Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for Ractopamine

For several years, Draft MRLs for ractopamine have been considered and hold at step 8 by Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC), since its 31^st session in 2008.  Recently, the latest 33^rd session CAC in July 2010 still agreed to defer the discussion until its next session and to hold the draft MRLs at Step 8.

· What is Ractopamine

It is a drug used as a feed additive to promote leanness in pigs and cattle raised for their meat.

In addition to USA, It is approved as a growth promoter in more than 20 countries, for example Canada, Brazil, Mexico and etc.  However, it is banned in 150 other countries, including the European Union, China and etc. 

· Consideration of Draft MRL for Ractopamine by 33^rd CAC

At the 33^rd CAC, JECFA informed the meeting on the conclusion of its comprehensive risk assessment of ractopamine as the followings:

- Ractopamine residues in muscle, fat, liver, kidney and other offal had been considered and no health concern had been identified.

- The only possible source that could lead to consumption of residues above the ADI was lung tissue, if considerable amounts of this tissue were consumed on a regular basis; however insufficient data on actual lung consumption were available.

Considering the conclusion mentioned above, the adoption of the draft MRLs for ractopamine in bovine and pig tissues was supported by the delegation of USA, Brazil and a number of delegations. 

On the other hand, it was opposed by China due to concern on the safety of ractopamine especially residues in lung tissue.  The European Union also disagreed with the approval of the MRLs, since it is intentionally used only for growth promotion without any therapeutic purposes. 

After the extensive discussions, it was agreed to hold the draft MRLs for ractopamine at Step 8 and conduct further consideration at the next session.

With an enthusiasm to reach the consensus in the next session, 2011, CAC then accepted the proposal of the Chairperson to serve as a facilitator through "Friends of the Chair" which is a new approach used in some organizations.  By this approach, selected delegations identified by the Chairperson will work together to propose possible risk management solutions for consideration at the next CAC session.  These identified delegates were Brazil, Canada, China, European Union, Ghana, Japan, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, Tunisia and USA.

Source:

http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/newsletter/39/en/

Http://mercola.com/sites/articles/ar

www.Wikipedia.com