Webinar series for capacity building on Codex topics of interest for the Latin American and the Caribbean region

Next module: Control and monitoring of veterinary drug residues

Veterinary medicines are essential for animal health and, in turn, for producing the food we consume. However, their residues may be present in food in quantities that are harmful to health, contributing, for example, to antimicrobial resistance and other adverse reactions that, over time, can affect quality of life.

In this context, the control and monitoring of residues in foods of animal origin are key components for guaranteeing food safety, in accordance with the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established by the Codex Alimentarius, which ensure that the quantities found in food are safe for consumers. In Latin America and the Caribbean, strengthening these programmes is essential to protect public health and, at the same time, respond to the growing sanitary requirements of international markets.

This webinar on “Control and monitoring of veterinary drug residues” will present an FAO tool designed to support countries in improving their monitoring systems, promoting a more integrated response for quantifying residue levels above and below the MRLs permitted under national legislation. It will also share regional experiences addressing progress, lessons learned and challenges in the design and implementation of veterinary drug residue control and monitoring programmes led by health authorities.

Webinars

Background: antimicrobial resistance and FAO

The accelerated growth of the global population, the increasing demand for food and the consequent expansion of the food industry, together with global health risks, highlight the importance of food safety in national policies and in strengthening food safety systems.

Foodborne diseases have major impacts on public health. It is estimated that, worldwide, 600 million people (1 in 10) fall ill after eating contaminated food, and 420,000 people die every year from the same cause (FAO and WHO, 2019). These diseases are generally caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances present in contaminated food or water (FAO and WHO, 2019).

In this context, the provision of safe food is essential to protect people’s health. Food only fulfils its function if it is safe. If it is not safe, it is not food. Food safety also contributes to food security and better nutrition and constitutes a pillar for countries’ economic development and international trade.

International organizations are working to strengthen the application of food safety standards among all actors in the food chain, with the objective of protecting public health and ensuring fair trade.

With these objectives in mind, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized as a growing global threat to human, animal and environmental health. It compromises food safety, food security and the economic well-being of millions of farming households. This is why the transformation of agrifood systems plays a key role in preventing and managing AMR-related risks.

To strengthen the capacities of teams involved in AMR-related work, the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, under the project “Actions to support the implementation of Codex texts on AMR (ACT),” has been offering a series of virtual seminars since 2022, grouped into three sections, with the purpose of:

• Sharing and promoting the application of Codex Alimentarius standards to strengthen national food safety systems.

• Guiding efforts to implement surveillance and mitigation programmes for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) under the One Health approach.

• Supporting the use and sharing of data in the International FAO Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (InFARM).

Follow the links of the webinar modules to access the contents of this training series.