Animal Feed and Drug Research Section (Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory) under the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department in Insein Township, Yangon Region is conducting lab tests for animal feedstuffs and drugs. The division is stepping up a project to monitor the prohibited and restricted use of antibiotics in animal feedstuffs.
Feed is of vital importance in Good Animal Husbandry Practice. Food producing animals that were exposed to restricted drugs, toxins and contaminants in agrichemicals and gold mining residues can harm human health. Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory is carrying out contamination testing for eggs, milk and meat to ensure food safety for the people.
“We conduct testing for the feedstuffs processing factory and meat production industry (poultry, cattle and pig farming) to check whether there is antibiotic use and contamination in various feedstuffs and eggs, milk and meat consumed by people or not. We always monitor the animal farms and feedstuffs processing factories to check if they comply with Good Animal Husbandry Practices as clean food can contribute to the national health sector. Animal Feed and Drug Research Section is also implementing lab testing in line with the project,” said Dr Moe Moe Thein, deputy director of the section.
The section runs lab tests for feed, vaccines and drugs. Moreover, it checks nutrition value and contamination in animal feed, veterinary drugs and related substances, vitamins and minerals, pesticides, domestically produced or imported vaccines, small animal breeding for diagnostic tests, antibiotic residues in eggs under the Food and Agriculture Organization project and antibiotic contamination in feedstuffs, with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency, FAO and the government. A one-year project monitoring antibiotic use in animal feedstuffs (December 2020- November 2021) was carried out. That project continued to progress starting from early 2022. Additionally, chemical residues and contamination in eggs, milk and meat are traced under a project as well. — Nyein Thu (MNA)/GNLM
