Public Health Hazards: C. Chemical Hazards and their Control

This chapter introduces the concepts of risk management in Veterinary Public Health (VPH), specifically the basic tools and the procedures developed and the regulatory requirements that are used by veterinarians for risk management of chemical residues and contaminants in meat production. This includes information management and the appropriate use of surveillance procedures and analytical methods for detection of residues and toxic contaminants in meat as well as the detection of fraudulent practices. Residues of veterinary medicine products (VMPs) can be due to substances that have been subjected or not to assessment and pre-marketing approval. Feed additives are used extensively in livestock nutrition. Environmental pollutants may be natural toxins, such as secondary plant metabolites and fungal/mould toxins or metals, as well as xenobiotic substances, which are deliberately released into the environment or illegal waste of toxic industrial by-products.