Reminder about milk withholding period for pour-on products containing abamectin
Published on 10 August 2023.
In 2022, New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) extended the milk withholding period for pour-on products containing abamectin from zero to 35 days. NZFS needed to make this change to manage the export trade risk associated with abamectin milk residues. This means abamectin residues in milk must be below the maximum residue level (MRL) of 0.003 mg/kg. The change to 35 days is necessary because NZFS has data to show residues in milk remain above 0.003 mg/kg for at least seven days, but does not have enough data to set an alternative withholding period.
As farmers head into spring calving season, please remember to use the 35-day milk withholding period whenever you use abamectin pour-on products in your herds. If you have already used an abamectin pour-on and are still within the 35-day withholding period at calving, contact NZFS for advice on how to manage residues in the herd so milk stays in compliance with the MRL.
You can contact New Zealand Food Safety at MPI.Approvals@mpi.govt.nz or 04 894 2550.
