Rosselkhoznadzor said it had concerns over cases of ‘dairy violations of veterinary and sanitary requirements of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Russian Federation,’ and points to the ‘continuing occurrence’ of detection of contaminants in dairy products coming from Turkey and New Zealand.
It said that recently five samples of dairy products (milk powder), produced by Turkish companies were found to exceed microbiological parameters, and butter produced at a New Zealand business had twice tested for tetracycline.
Today, a day after the warning, Rosselkhoznadzor said from July 17, 2017 there would be temporary restrictions on supplies of dairy products to Russia by the Turkish company Aynes Gıda Sanayi Ticaret A.Ş., in connection with the repeated detection of E. coli in the imported dry skim milk of the producer.
Aynes is one of Turkey’s largest dairy companies, producing milk, yogurt, cheese, butter, yogurt drinks and milk powders.
‘Insufficient controls’
The Russian agency said discrepancies were detected during laboratory monitoring of dairy products coming to the Russian Federation, despite assurances by the veterinary services of New Zealand on the non-use of antibiotics in the country, which is the active substance Tetracycline.
Rosselkhoznadzor said it was ‘apparent that the control measures taken by the veterinary services in these countries are not sufficient to remedy the situation.’
It said if it continues to identify such violations, Rosselkhoznadzor will be forced to limit the supply of milk products imported into Russia from Turkey and New Zealand.
Different standards
In Russia, according to the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union (2011), the limit is 10ppb for milk, although according to Charm Sciences Inc., which produces antibiotic milk tests to satisfy Russian Federation requirements, 7.2ppb of tetracycline is deemed fit for human consumption.
Between 7.2 and 12.8ppb, samples are sent for repeat testing and at levels greater than 12.8ppb the products are considered unfit for human consumption.
In Canada, the maximum residue limit (MRL) for tetracycline is 100ppb. In New Zealand, the 100ppb MRL covers oxytetracycline, tetracycline, chlortetracycline, or doxycycline singly or in combination.
The Food and Agricultural Organization and World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) and the European Union (EU) recommend an MRL of 100ppb for tetracycline, oxytetracycline and/or chlortetracycline (singly or in combination) in milk.
In the US, the US Food and Drug Administration has set an upper legal level of 300ppb for the combined residues of tetracycline, oxytetracycline and/or chlortetracycline.