EU Clarifies Veterinary Drug Residue Enforcement for Meat Products
The European Commission has adopted a regulation defining enforcement requirements for violations involving veterinary drug withdrawal periods, maximum residue limits or maximum levels, and illegal treatment of food-producing animals, including new provisions addressing products that have already been slaughtered, processed, or incorporated into batches containing compliant foods.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/2408 amends Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2090 to clarify the actions competent authorities must take when noncompliance is identified, including requirements for product disposal, investigations, and risk-based enforcement measures.
Enforcement Requirements for Veterinary Drug Withdrawal Period Violations
The amendments clarify that official veterinarians are required to declare meat, meat products, offal, and other affected products “unfit for human consumption” when there is suspicion or evidence that the animals were slaughtered before the required withdrawal period for veterinary drugs had elapsed. The products must be disposed of as Category 2 animal byproducts.
The regulation also establishes follow-up measures when withdrawal-period noncompliance is confirmed, requiring competent authorities to declare affected processed and unprocessed products of animal origin unfit for human consumption and order their disposal.
Noncompliant Products Mixed With Compliant Foods
The regulation also clarifies enforcement requirements when animal-derived products affected by withdrawal-period violations, excessive residues, or illegal treatment have been incorporated into batches containing compliant products.
When affected products can be isolated from compliant products, they must be declared unfit for human consumption and disposed of under the applicable animal by-product requirements.
When affected products cannot be isolated, competent authorities must assess available information and take appropriate measures to eliminate or reduce risks to human health.
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These measures may include restricting or prohibiting products from entering the market, requiring increased operator testing and official controls, and ordering product recalls, withdrawals, removal, or destruction.
Products affected by withdrawal-period violations or excessive residues must be disposed of as Category 2 animal by-products, while products affected by illegal treatment are subject to Category 1 disposal requirements.
Cross-Border Enforcement Requirements Expanded
The regulation also extends administrative notification and assistance requirements to withdrawal-period violations involving animals or products originating from another EU Member State.
When such noncompliance is established, the investigating authority must notify the relevant authorities in accordance with the EU Official Controls Regulation and request administrative assistance when required.
The competent authority in the Member State of origin must then apply the relevant enforcement measures to the farm or establishment of origin or departure.
The amendments are intended to ensure more consistent enforcement of EU requirements concerning veterinary drug residues and illegal treatment throughout the animal-derived food supply chain.
