Open AccessEFSA review of Maximum Residue Limits for halquinol in pig tissues as set by JECFA
Author(s) -
Lourdes Bastos Maria,
Bories Georges,
Brantom Paul,
Galobart Jaume,
Gropp Jürgen,
Marcon Francesca,
Pizzo Fabiola,
Villa Roberto Edoardo,
Vettori Maria Vittoria
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
efsa supporting publications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2397-8325
DOI - 10.2903/sp.efsa.2021.en-6692
Subject(s) - acceptable daily intake , european union , toxicology , european commission , food additive , food safety , veterinary drug , medicine , food science , microbiology and biotechnology , business , biology , pesticide , chemistry , chromatography , agronomy , economic policy
The European Commission requested the European Food Safety Authority ( EFSA ) to review the evaluation of halquinol by the 85 th and 88 th meetings of the Joint FAO / WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives ( JECFA ) and to assess any other relevant scientific information in order to establish whether there is ground for any food safety concerns about the maximum residues levels ( MRL s) recommended by JECFA . In several countries halquinol is used as a veterinary drug in pigs and poultry to enhance growth performance while this is prohibited in the European Union. JECFA derived an Acceptable daily intake ( ADI ) of 0‐0.2 mg/kg body weight, based on histopathological changes associated with an increase in mean absolute and relative kidney weights seen in a 1‐year chronic toxicity study conducted in rats and has recommended MRL s for halquinol of 500, 9000, 40 and 350 μg/kg in pigs liver, kidney, muscle and skin+fat, respectively. Overall, EFSA considers that the MRL s for halquinol proposed by JECFA are sufficiently low to ensure the safety of European consumers when exposed to foodstuffs from halquinol treated pigs. However, due to some limitations and uncertainties in the toxicological database available, EFSA is not in the position to confirm the ADI of 0‐0.2 mg/kg bw, as set by JECFA .