MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE IN ABATTOIRS OF RESIDUES OF ANTIBACTERIALSUBSTANCES - A DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAMS IN AUSTRALIA AND THE USA

Australia and the USA are major international meat exporting countries . Both countries conduct programs to monitor and survey for antibacter ial residues. Australian programs use a urine screening test, whereas the US programs use tissue fluids as the test medium. The development of surveillance programs to provide rapid feedback to producers is a f eature of the Australian programs. The programs in each country compar e favourably with regard to numbers of animals tested, results and act ion taken to prevent residues. The results of the Australian programs justify the promotion of a 'clean food' image for Australian meat prod ucts with respect to antibacterial drugs.