State of Israel
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Office of the Spokesperson of the Ministry
23rd June 2013
16 Tamuz, 5773
Release: 792/13
Press Release
Review of residual chemical materials in animal products for 2012
The good news: especially low to minute levels (by European standards) of chemical
materials are found in our food. The even better news: Goat's milk and pork are completely
free of any residues.
According to the Minister of Agriculture, Yair Shamir: "The review constitutes just one of the
resources used by the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure the quality of food marketed to the
Israeli public. The Office continues to act and make periodic examinations in order to ensure
that no materials that are potentially harmful to the public's health in the short or the long
term.
The Ministry of Agriculture's Veterinary Services make regular checks for the presence of
chemical residues in animal products through the means of a national sample survey that is
carried out every year and throughout the year. The residual survey looks for the presence of
residual traces of veterinary medicines, pesticides & insecticides and environmental pollutants
in animal products (chicken & turkey, beef, pork, milk, eggs, fish).
The aim of the review is to ensure that foods marketed in Israel do not contain any forbidden
substances that could harm the public's health either in the long or the short term and that the
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State of Israel
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Office of the Spokesperson of the Ministry
products do not contain excess amounts of substances that are authorized for use.
Additionally, the review aims to identify trends in the incorrect or illegal use of medicines or
pesticides & insecticides, to collect data in order to perform risk assessments and to issue
warnings with regard to excess levels and allow for corrective measures to be taken. The
review has been held since 1991 and is held in coordination between the Ministry of Agriculture
and the Ministry of Health.
The Israeli sample takes into account the scope of local production and consumption levels
(eating habits of Israelis). Product sampling is performed at the farmer's farm, sorting
stations, slaughterhouses and also tests carried out at the Ministry's laboratories. 8animal
types are tested (Cows, sheep & goats, pigs, chickens (for meat), turkeys, chickens (for eggs),
fish and bees). In 2012, some 14,650 laboratory tests were carried out on these items.
Israel carries out far more examinations in relation to the growth of local consumption.
According to the European standard, Israel should only have carried out some 3,000 test per
year. However, the State chose to increase the sample size in order to raise the statistical
significance of its results as per the accepted system in the United States and other developed
countries.
The term "residues" refers to the presence of veterinary medicines, pesticides & insecticides
and environmental pollutants, or the results of their decomposition, remaining in animal
products. The presence of such materials can be from natural causes of due to agricultural or
industrial activities. The Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) are set according to international
standards, based on the most severe standard that defines which substances are authorized for
use and at which levels. The Maximum Residue Limits as defined, take into account, amongst
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State of Israel
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Office of the Spokesperson of the Ministry
other things, the food basket consumed by the average individual and includes a margin of
error which is expressed by nil risk.
The review program is defined and supervised by the Supreme Steering Committee for Residues
in Animal Products that is a joint committee of the Ministries of Agriculture and Health. Over
the years, various review methods and procedures have been implemented according to those
accepted in developed nations. At first, this was according to procedures acceptable in the
United States which are based on the principals of risk assessment and statistical significance
and as decided by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, an international food standards body (the Codex
alimentarius). According to this system a large number of samples taken from a limited variety
of substances are examined. Later on, also according to the European approach where the size
of the sample is based on production levels (a small number of samples from a large range of
substances are examined).
From 2012, following an in depth examination of the matter, it was decided to combine the two
procedures. The size of the new sample was decided according to accepted statistical principals
but without reducing the number of substances to be examined. The new system dramatically
increases the number of tests and increases the statistical significance fir the identification of
excess substances and materials. The principals of the review and of the statistical sample are
based on secrecy and random sampling.
Dr. Erez Lubrani, Head of the Department for the Supervision of Veterinary Preparations for
the Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture: "The use of chemical preparations for
veterinary use as laid down, the use of veterinary medicines as laid down and suitable
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State of Israel
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Office of the Spokesperson of the Ministry
interfaces guarantee minimal of the public to these substances through the food consumed.
With regard to materials not authorized for use, any level of the substance or substances
deriving from its decomposition found in animal products is regarded as an abnormal finding".
Dr. Lubrani adds: "Existing technology allows for the identification of substances present in
minute quantities. Lad results that exceed the Maximum Residue Limits are reported to those
responsible for carrying out the review and professional elements charged with the
implementation of the examination so that they can identify the source of the pollution and
reduce or prevent its reoccurrence".
Following are the 2012 Review results:
Milk (cows)
Out of 264 samples just one (0.4%) contained anti-inflammatory substances (not steroids) that
were above the Maximum Residue Limits.
Milk (Sheep & goats)
All 910 laboratory tests were found to have no substances above the Maximum Residue Limits.
Fish
Out of 205 samples just one sample was found to contain green malachite (for treating bacteria, fungi
and parasites). Out of 112 samples only one additional sample contained tetracycline (an antibiotic)
above the Maximum Residue Limits.
Honey
Out of 45 samples only one was found to contain sulfides (an antibiotic) above the Maximum
Residue Limits.
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State of Israel
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
Office of the Spokesperson of the Ministry
Beef
106 tests were taken; out of which 1.9% were found to have sulfides (an antibiotic) above the
Maximum Residue Limits (2 samples).
Pork
Out of 572 samples, none were found to be outside of the Maximum Residue Limits.
Chicken meat
Out of 166 samples, 2.4% contained cadmium (a heavy metal), 1.4% contained Fluor quinolone
(an antibiotic), 0.3% contained Junoforom (for the treatment of parasites) and 3.9% contained
nicarbazine (for the treatment of parasites) above the Maximum Residue Limits.
Turkey meat
Out of 132 samples, 4.6% contained cadmium (a heavy metal). out of 142 samples, 3 samples
(2.1%) contained sulfides (an antibiotic).
Eggs
Out of 250 tests carried out on eggs, 17.6% of the samples were found to contain colfidol (for
the treatment of parasites), 21.7% contained Junoforom (for the treatment of parasites) and
0.4% contained nicarbazine (for the treatment of parasites). 2 samples contained sulfides (an
antibiotic) and 5 contained tetracycline (an antibiotic) above the Maximum Residue Limits.
,‫בברכה‬
‫דפנה יוריסטה‬
‫דוברת משרד החקלאות ופיתוח הכפר‬
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