The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has lifted furazolidone restrictions from 97 pig farms.
The farms, which were previously placed under restriction during an investigation into the possible presence of the prohibited antibiotic, are therefore now free to return to normal operations.
The substance, used in the past as a growth-promoting agent, has been prohibited in the EU since 1995 in relation to food producing animals. This is due to concerns over its carcinogenic potential. When it was found earlier this year on a veal farm, therefore, NVWA immediately launched an investigation into the origin and use of the substance. This research is now largely complete.
NVWA also announced, however, that they are continuing a furazolidone-based investigation of an animal feed manufacturer in central Netherlands.