FAQ

The withdrawal time or withdrawal period for antimicrobials is the time between the last antimicrobial dose given to the animal and the time in which the level of residues in the tissues (muscle, liver, kidney, skin/fat) or products (milk, eggs and meat) is lower than or equal to the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL). This is done to avoid un-prescribed consumption of antimicrobials by humans via the food chain. In terms of regulation, this period “ensures that the food does not contain levels of the medicine that exceed the maximum residue limit” (EMA, 2018). In the EU, the MRL is first recommended by the EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Veterinary Use and then adopted by the European Commission. It then becomes a legally binding food safety standard (EMA, 2018).