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Vaccinating pigs against ileitis minimizes or eliminates the need for antibiotics later and prevents withdrawal problems associated with the Japanese requirements.

Producers seem committed to meeting the Japanese maximum residue limits (MRLs) set last May and are managing their production programs to comply, according to the National Pork Board.

Paul Sundberg, vice president of science and technology for the National Pork Board, tells the story of a producer who loaded pigs on a semi and watched it drive away before realizing the animals may not meet the Japanese MRLs.

“He knew they’d meet the U.S. withdrawal, but wasn’t sure about the Japanese standard,” Sundberg says. “Th e guy jumped in his truck and chased the semi, stopping it along the interstate.He called the packer on his cell phone and found out that no, the withdrawal wasn’t long enough and they had to divert the pigs. That is an example of the commitment producers have to this thing.”

Th e maximum residue limits for veterinary drugs in food, including pork and pork products, were set by the Japanese government May 29. Producers selling pork to packers exporting to Japan are expected to satisfy these requirements. Withdrawal standards set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will satisfy most of the new Japanese guidelines, but not all.

According to Sundberg, there has not been a violation to the withdrawal standards.

Even before the policy became official, the Pork Board had sent every producer in its checkoff database a letter in an aggressive educational campaign. The letter asked producers to talk to their packer and veterinarian, amending withdrawal times if necessary.

Every member of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) received a packet of information as well, says Sundberg. “We are continuing to strategize about communication plans to keep this in the minds of producers and working with AASV to keep it in front of veterinarians.”

The Pork Board has changed its Web site to make it easier to find withdrawal information on specific products. “It is now easier to find information on the site,” Sundberg notes. “It also includes a position from AASV and a recommendation that if a product is not in the database, that product should not be used in finisher or breeding herds.”

About 15 of every 100 pigs go into the export market. Japan accounts for 45 percent of all U.S. pork exports and has a value of nearly $1.1 billion. Just one out-of-compliance animal could put this market at risk, says Phil Seng, CEO of the U.S. Meat Export Federation in a Pork Board release.

Th e Pork Board advises producers to contact their packer and find out if their hogs are being channeled to the Japanese export market and are aff ected by the regulations. For now, producers can visit the Pork Checkoff ’s Web site (http://www.pork.org/producers/JapanMRL.aspx) to determine if medications they are using have withdrawal periods that are impacted by the standards. This Web page will be updated as information from animal health companies is received.

Vaccines such as Enterisol Ileitis are not antibiotics. Vaccinating pigs against ileitis minimizes or eliminates the need for antibiotics later and prevents withdrawal problems associated with the Japanese requirements.

Japanese residue monitoring protocols require testing to be done at or near any identified injection sites. Producers are encouraged to work with their veterinarian to consider product choices in the finisher phase and to develop appropriate treatment protocols.

“The issue is not to stop using drugs, but to use them correctly because we have a responsibility to avoid residues and satisfy market specifications,” Sundberg says.

THE LATEST INFORMATION ON JAPANESE MRLS
The National Pork Board Web site is an excellent resource for the latest information on Japanese maximum residue limits. The site includes a searchable product database, a list of animal health companies and related information. You can access the Web site at www.pork.org/ producers/JapanMRL.aspx.