The Veterinary Medicines
Directorate (VMD) operates a national sampling scheme required under
an EU Directive (86/469/EEC) to monitor whether residues of veterinary
medicines, including pesticides, are passing into meat for human
consumption in unacceptable concentrations. During 1995, some 42,000
samples were collected for analysis of which 637 were analysed for
unspecified organochlorine and organophosphorous residues in cattle,
sheep and pig kidney fat. One sample of pig’s kidney contained
residues of DDT at 1.4 mg/kg (parts per million) which is above the
maximum residue limit. Investigation by the VMD suggests that the
residue does not signify misuse of DDT, which was banned for use in
the UK in 1984.
MAVIS, January 1996, p14. & 20.
[This article first appeared in Pesticides News No. 31,March 1996, page 19]