Withdrawal period and MRL

Withdrawal period and MRL

In Finland, medicinal products used on food-producing animals shall contain no other medicinal substances except those approved for use in food-producing animals (Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry 17/14 (finlex.fi, in Finnish)). This requires an assessment of the safety of the active substance and of its residues. The assessment is conducted in two stages. The maximum residue limit (MRL) of a pharmacological substance is assessed by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use (CVMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The withdrawal period for each medicinal product is assessed before marketing authorisation is granted.

“Food-producing animals” refers to animals bred, raised, kept, slaughtered or harvested for the purpose of producing food.

Food-producing animals include bovine animals, pigs, sheep, goats, poultry, horses, farmed fish, bees used for honey production, and reindeer.

Banned medicinal substances

The use of certain medicinal substances on food-producing animals is restricted in the European Union and some are banned altogether. Medicinal substances banned in the EU are listed in the Government Decree 054/2014 on the ban of the use of certain medicinal substances on animals (pdf, in Finnish, including amendments).

Veterinary / Withdrawal period and MRL (Further information)

Further information

  • Kivilahti-Mäntylä Katariina, Veterinary Officer, tel. +358295223354