FSA Expert Group on Testing of Milk for Antibiotic Residues

The group has been set up to advise the Food Standards Agency on scientific and practical aspects surrounding the control of antibiotic residues in milk.

The group's remit is to advise the Food Standards Agency on scientific and practical aspects surrounding the control of antibiotic residues in milk. In particular:

• to develop practical guidance on what constitutes a positive result in a rapid test for antibiotics
• to develop guidance on the procedures to be followed for the reporting of antibiotic test failures, and on the actions to be taken by industry and the enforcement authorities as a consequence of an antibiotic failure
• to recommend a strategy to the FSA in relation to handling the planned European discussions
• to consider potential future issues (horizon scan) in relation to the antibiotic testing of milk

Within the remit it will consider:

• gaps in scientific knowledge
• the content of guidance
• issues with the new policy on antibiotic residues
• the clarity of existing regulatory requirements
• the need for initiatives with other Member States, industry, IDF, kit manufacturers and so on, by, for example, FSA, VMD, NRL