October 23, 2019

 

Unregulated Chinese antibiotics seized at UK airport amid food scandal fears

 

The Chinese antibiotics, believed to be amoxicillin, were headed for a Northern Ireland poultry farm. Investigations into a large poultry farm company are underway, reported The Guardian.

 

According to the Northern Ireland Department of Health, a multi-agency investigation is underway into large poultry farm company in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

 

Also involved in the investigation is the UK Food Standards Agency, which is aware of the Department of Health led operation and is working with authorities in the investigation to safeguard the food chain from contamination.

 

While it is approved as veterinary medicine in the UK, there are restrictions to the import of amoxicillin. It can only be administered under veterinary direction to ill animals.

 

It is against the law to use antibiotics to promote livestock growth as it could possibly lead to germs becoming resistant to the toughest antibiotics used for humans.

 

Dame Sally Davies, UK's outgoing chief medical officer said antibiotic resistance is a prevalent danger to human health. Through a voluntary campaign, in recent years the UK poultry industry has decreased its use of antibiotics.

 

A Guardian source said the poultry farm under investigation is a large supplier to Moy Park, a chicken slaughtering and processing company, as well as Northern Ireland's biggest employer. The company is the poultry supplier for most leading UK retailers.

 

Moy Park said it was supplied by the poultry farm under investigation but has no stake in the farm's ownership. The company believes the investigation involved a remote incident in a self-owned contract supply farm.

 

With Brexit negotiations over health and customs checks for the transport of goods between Britain, Ireland and Northern Ireland, the situation might cause distress in Europe with regards to food supply safety once the UK breaks way from the EU.

 

Investigators are looking into the company's history – if it had imported unregulated medicine in the past, if the medicine was used in the farm and if poultry with antibiotic residues have entered the retail food chain.

 

By law, the UK must let the European commission know of food safety issues so a rapid alert can be made to all EU nations. The issue is currently not known to EU safety authorities. 

 

Action has been taken so poultry from the affected farm will not get into the food chain.

 

-  The Guardian