Voluntary Suspension of 3-Nitro-20 and Super Nitro-12
By Manitoba Veterinary Medical Association
Features Profiles ResearchersJuly 8, 2012 – In collaboration with Health Canada, Pfizer Canada and Dominion Veterinary
Laboratories are voluntarily suspending sales in Canada of two
veterinary drugs (3-Nitro-20 and Super Nitro-12) containing roxarsone as
of August 8, 2011.
July 8, 2012 – In collaboration with Health Canada, Pfizer Canada and Dominion Veterinary
Laboratories are voluntarily suspending sales in Canada of two
veterinary drugs (3-Nitro-20 and Super Nitro-12) containing roxarsone as
of August 8, 2011.
This follows similar action taken by the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) in response to a recent scientific study that
detected inorganic arsenic, a known carcinogen, at higher levels in the
livers of chickens treated with these drugs compared with untreated
chickens.
Health Canada has reviewed the FDA study and agrees with the
conclusion that the detected levels of inorganic arsenic are very low
and that there is no immediate risk to public health from consuming
chicken treated with these drugs. This is a precautionary measure to
remove any avoidable exposure to very low levels of inorganic arsenic in
chickens treated with roxarsone.
Health Canada continues to monitor the safety of drug products while
they are on the market and assesses new safety information as it becomes
available in order to maintain the safety of Canada's food supply.
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