4 Drug Residue Monitoring System

4.1 Implementation of Residue Monitoring Program

4.1.1 General Situation
Taking into account the requirements of the EU directive 96/22 and 96/23, MOA and the former General Administration of Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (now known as AQSIQ) developed ‘Chinese Residues Control Program on Live Animals and Foodstuffs of Animal Origin’ in March 1999, which mainly included: laws and regulations related to residue control; competent authorities concerned and their organization structures; lab inspection network; detailed official sampling procedures; list of substances to be tested and analysis methods to be used; number of samples to be taken; measures against non-compliant cases.

4.1.2 Products to be monitored
Residues monitoring program in 1999 covered broilers, rabbits, honey and fish. Cattle, pigs, horse, sheep, crawfish and casings were added to the sampling plan of 2000, and the target of DES residue monitoring was specified from fish to eels.
The list of animals remained unchanged from 2001 to the following year. In 2003 based on the actual condition that the royal jelly and honey are exported as two different commodities, royal jelly was added by AQSIQ to be listed in monitoring program.

4.1.3 Species and Catalog of Monitoring Substances and objective items

4.1.3.1 In 1999, 43 substances of 13 species were included in the RMP

4.1.3.2 In 2000, 62 substances of 17 species were included in the RMP

4.1.3.3 In 2001, 64 substances of 17 species were included in the RMP

4.1.3.4 In 2002, 87 substances of 18 species were included in the RMP

4.1.3.5 In 2003, 90 substances of 18 species were included in the RMP

4.1.4 Residue monitoring items and sample numbers
Based on the residue monitoring results in the previous year, especially on the feedback information of the positive (non-compliance) results, and taking account of world-wide alert notifications, samples of some items to be taken will be duly increased year by year; based on the reasonable suggestions in FVO inspection report and the problems of chloramphenicol and nitrofuran which had been notified by EU in recent years, the monitoring items are being added in order to meet the residue requirement of importing countries and regions such as the EU, Japan, Korea, Switzerland and HK. The list of monitoring items will be updated and the monitoring system, improved in the following year.

4.1.4.1 In 2000 10 items were added compared with the monitoring program in 1999

4.1.4.2 In 2001 another 18 items were added compared with the monitoring program in 2000

4.1.4.3 In 2002 59 items were added compared with the monitoring program in 2001

4.1.4.4 In 2003 29 items were added compared with the monitoring program in 2002

4.1.5 Establishment and Improvement of sampling procedure and delivery procedure
For the purpose of ensuring fairness, lawfulness and scientificness of official sampling and handling of samples, and representativeness of samples taken, ‘Official Sampling Procedure’ was stipulated in ‘Chinese Residue Control Program on
Live Animals and Foods of Animal origin (1999)’ based on the EU Directive 98/179/EC and the sampling methods recommended of FAO/WHO Pesticide Residue Code Committee.
In February 2000, the following flow charts and recording sheets were improved and put into use in 2001 by the former General Administration of Inspection and Quarantine (now known as AQSIQ): the whole CIQ residue monitoring work flow chart, CIQ residue monitoring sampling flow chart, CIQ residue monitoring sampling sheet, CIQ residue monitoring sampling tag, CIQ residue monitoring delivery sheet, CIQ residue monitoring testing results report sheet and the result statistics table.
In order to properly deliver the samples, in 2001, CIQ started to consign to DATONG International transportation Co. of sample delivery by air express. Since then, samples have always been delivered this way.
The Official Sampling Procedure were further standardized in 2001. Technical Operation Key Point of the Veterinary Drug
Residue Monitoring Sampling Plan in 2001 and Operational Measures of Residue Monitoring Sampling were stipulated by MOA; CIQ also set up various detailed sampling procedures for cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, chicken, rabbits, casings, eels, crayfish and honey respectively. All of these technical guidance documents were distributed to local authorities with the annual residue monitoring program together. The sampling could be stochastic and non-scheduled in the implementation of the Official Sampling Procedure.

4.1.6 Residue monitored regions and their assigned sampling and testing tasks
Based on the implementation of the residue monitoring program in the previous year, the problems mentioned in the implementation reports and residue monitoring plans for the coming year submitted by regional authorities, AQSIQ makes reasonable adjustment on regional arrangement of the overall sampling and testing tasks.
For example, sampled regions have expanded from 12 regions in 1999 to the current 32 regions. Chloramphenicol and nitrofurans were added to the sampling plan of 2003. In addition, in view of the increasing positive results in imported products, from 2003 onwards, residue sampling are applied to imported products, mainly in major entry borders/ports in the provinces of Guangdong, Liaoning, Shanghai, Shandong, Tianjin and Shenzhen.

4.2 Other related assurance measures for residue monitoring

4.2.1 Setting up expert team for residue monitoring
AQSIQ has an expert team for residue monitoring who are regularly trained and are responsible for the collection of information on residue limits and methods of analysis, and the studies of measures to be taken for residue monitoring in China. With the development and expansion of residue monitoring work, AQSIQ has cultivated a group of residue monitoring experts who are familiar with the laws and regulations of the EU, the Unite States, Canada, Japan and are accomplished in the administration of residue monitoring, supervision and inspection. AQSIQ also has a group of technical experts accomplished in residue analytic techniques and well informed of latest analytic development.

4.2.2 Foundation of National Drug Residue Monitoring Committee
Experts from MOA and other relevant departments were organized by MOA to form National Drug Residue Monitoring Committee. The committee is responsible for the evaluation of the effectiveness and efficiency of residue monitoring plans and making adjustment to the plans if necessary based on the data on domestic drug use, environmental protection, local residue control, and the sale and use of pesticides and veterinary drugs. The committee is also responsible for the dialogues with relevant international organizations, and the draft, examination and revision of annual residue monitoring plans.

4.2.3 Compilation of relevant regulations and technical documents
With a view to strengthening residue control and laboratory analysis and providing technical assistance to related establishments, Pesticide and Veterinary Drug MRLs in Foodstuff in Different Countries was compiled and published in November
2002 by AQSIQ.
In July 2003, AQSIQ compiled and published Collection of Regulations and Circulars on animal origin foodstuff residue monitoring, which was passed down to each directly-affiliated CIQ and related establishment for the purpose of thorough implementation.