Trends in monitoring residues of prohibited pharmacologically active substances in primary products of animal origin in Lithuania and the European Union from 1999 to 2008

Group A pharmacologically active substances monitoring data in the Republic of Lithuania (LR) during the period 1999-2008 are presented. Peer review is based on data taken from residue monitoring plans of the years 1999-2008 and the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute (NFVRAI) reports on analyses performed in various foods. The data were analysed with the SPSS statistical package, using descriptive statistics and generalised linear modelling methods. Retrospective analysis of residue monitoring results showed that food processed from animal products presented no risk to consumers as regards to substances of Group A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5. One substance of Group A6 (chloramphenicol) was detected in bovine milk in 2003 (9%), 2006 (2%) and 2008 (1.4%). The decreasing trend is confirmed by statistical data analyses, where year of monitoring (P <= 0.0001), product (P <= 0.1) and their interaction (P <= 0.0001) proved the positive effect of the monitoring system.