United Kingdom drug residues

Between May, 1986, and December, 1990, over 35,000 analyses were conducted in the United Kingdom for surveillance for veterinary drug residues in food. The results drawn from these analyses allow the incidence and concentrations of drug residues in the national food supply to be assessed (29). Although a very large number of samples were analyzed, a rather small number of samples were found to contain violative residues that mainly concerned sulfonamides in swine, and oxolinic acid and oxytetracycline in farmed fish. However, the incidence of sulfonamide residues in a range of swine tissues from home-produced and imported sources showed a significant decline over the period 1986-1990 (Table 13.21). 

In the United Kingdom, for example, all residents are covered by the National Health Service (NHS) and access to drugs is subsidised directly, leaving only a minor role for private health insurance and a nominal charge to be borne by the patient. In the United States, at the other extreme, health insurance is voluntary and in the hands of proht-driven private insurance companies, leaving only a residual role... 

Sara Stead, The Food and Environment Research Agency, York, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom Alida A. M. (Linda) Stolker, Department of Veterinary Drug Research, RIKILT—Institute of Food Safety Unit Contaminants and Residues, Wageningen, The Netherlands... 

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