Brussels, 22/12/2008 (Agence Europe) - On 19 December, the Agriculture Council adopted its joint position on the draft regulation establishing Community procedures for setting Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) for pharmacologically active substances in foods of animal origin. The proposed measures seek to ensure a high level of protection for public health and to increase the availability of veterinary medicines.
The main changes from the 1990 regulation are: - the requirement to examine the possibilities of extrapolation in scientific assessments carried out to establish MRLs; - the requirement on the Community to accept the MRLs adopted in the Codex Alimentarius unless it has raised an objection at the time of adoption; - setting up a legal framework for establishing MRLs for pharmacologically active substances not specifically intended for use in veterinary medicines on the Community; - the establishment of reference values when necessary for control purposes in the event of there no being any MRLs.
The new regulation also aims to simplify current legislation and to make it easier to understand. (L.C./transl.rt)