THE latest update from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) gives a clean bill of health to farmed fish samples taken between January and June 2005. Their laboratory carried out 400 analyses on 367 samples of trout and salmon destined for human consumption and found no chemical residue levels above those which might require action. These included analyses for malachite green and its derivative, leucomalachite green, pesticides (including PCBs), heavy metals, antibiotics and anthelminthics.
However the report gives details of the presence of malachite green and leucomalachite green in samples from two UK trout re-stocking farms and in farmed imported fish from Vietnam and Indonesia.
In the case of the two UK trout farms, samples taken at the end of 2004 were confirmed positive for residues of malachite/leucomalchite green. Restrictions were placed on the farms and a total of seventy-seven follow-up samples were taken from ponds on the sites.
Sixty- three of these were confirmed as positive and the site owners were required to slaughter out the ponds containing these fish.
The imports were of tilapia, milkfish and red tail tinfoil barbel. All remaining stock for the three samples was been withdrawn from sale and the Chief Veterinary Officer has informed colleagues in the producing countries.
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