The two trade associations representing Uruguay’s meatpacking industry, the Cámara de la Industria Frigorífica (CIF) and the Asociación de la Industria Frigorífica del Uruguay (Adifu), issued a joint statement on Saturday, January 2, urging “all actors in the meat production chain to take extra care and ensure the necessary controls to avoid” the detection at destination of veterinary drug residues exceeding established thresholds, according to Monitor Agrícola.
The statement refers to the detection by China’s Customs of veterinary residues above maximum permitted levels, which led to the rejection of shipments.
“It is necessary to exercise extreme caution in order to preserve our country’s prestige and trust as a guarantee of the safety of edible products exported to international markets,” the statement said.
It also recalls that the Ministry of Livestock has foreseen “strong sanctions in the event of non-compliance, ranging from the application of fines to the preventive suspension of cattle movements to slaughter.”
