1. FSIS is issuing this notice to ensure that Veterinary Medical Officers (VMO) have clarification of FSIS’s policies regarding the testing of show animals that may pose a health risk to consumers. Incidence reports of violative residue levels in livestock from shows and fairs have been received. In response, Veterinary Medical Associations, Agricultural Extension Services, and Livestock Show and Fair Commissions have initiated residue avoidance and prevention programs through educational outreach campaigns.
    
2. To support the avoidance and prevention programs, VMOs are to continue conducting in-plant tests for show animals. VMOs are to randomly perform in-plant tests for antibiotics and sulfas on healthy appearing show animals. For any unhealthy appearing show animal, VMOs are to perform in-plant tests for antibiotics and sulfas. If any in-plant test is positive, VMOs are to retain the carcass and submit samples to an FSIS laboratory for confirmation. VMOs do not need to retain the animals that came into the establishment with the test animal because the animals come from various sources.
3. For beta-adrenergic agonists, including clenbuterol and ractopamine, a State Health Board may contact a VMO to request the testing of incoming show animals. Beta-adrenergic agonists are approved for only limited veterinary use in the United States (clenbuterol is approved only for horses not intended for use as food, and ractopamine is approved for swine only). However, sometimes these drugs are allegedly administered to show animals in the United States to increase their muscle mass and to give them a competitive advantage. Slaughter classes in which the use of these drugs is a problem include steers, heifers, market hogs, mature sheep, and lambs.

1. For purposes of this notice and for determining what testing to do, a lot would be considered to include all animals from one fair/show. A lot of animals that appear to be healthy is to be tested in the following manner:
   1. Test a minimum of 1 animal if there are 1 to 10 animals in a lot.
   2. Test a minimum of 2 animals if there are 11 to 50 animals in a lot.
   3. Test a minimum of 3 animals if there are 51 to 100 animals in a lot.
   4. Test a minimum of 4 animals if there are more than 100 animals in a lot.
   5. Maintain the identity of all tested animals. This is important for tracebacks.
   6. If the in-plant residue test is negative, release the carcass. If the in-plant residue test is positive, retain the carcass/product pending laboratory confirmation.
       
2. If any animals in the lot appear to be unhealthy, VMOs should:
   1. Observe the animals on ante-mortem and post-mortem for symptoms, injection sites, or pathological conditions.
   2. For each unhealthy appearing animal, conduct in-plant residue tests, such as Swab Test on Premises (STOP), Fast Anti-microbial Screening Test (FAST), Sulfa-On-Site (SOS), etc., as applicable to the slaughter class.
   3. Maintain the identity of all tested animals. This is important for tracebacks.
   4.  If the in-plant residue test is negative, release the carcass. If the in-plant residue test is positive, retain the carcass/product pending laboratory confirmation.

1. After being contacted by a State Health Board, notify the TSC, Standards and Procedures/Residue Branch, by telephone at 1-800-233-3935 and inform plant management about the sampling.
    
2. Follow the same guidelines for selecting samples as in paragraph II. A. 1, 2, 3, and 4 above (Antibiotic/Sulfa Testing).
    
3. Maintain identification of the designated show animals throughout ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection procedures.
    
4. Only retain carcasses sampled for beta-adrenergic agonists under the following circumstances:
    
   1. If a live animal test on the designated animal has been reported to FSIS as positive for beta-adrenergic agonists by a reasonably credible source, such as a show board or State inspection official. NOTE: Champion animals are sometimes screened using a live animal urine screen test at the livestock show for the presence of beta-adrenergic agonists. If the screen test is positive, this would be an indication that it is a high risk animal and therefore should be retained and tested by FSIS. Notify the TSC immediately through normal channels.
   2. If asked to do so by the TSC, Standards and Procedures/Residue Branch.
   3. If any carcass exhibits an abnormal condition that routinely requires retention, or if inspection program personnel suspect that an animal has been treated (i.e., is massive in size). If retention is required, maintain identity of the retained carcass and parts pending disposition notification from the TSC.

1. Antibiotic/Sulfa: collect one pound of liver, one pound of muscle, and one pound of kidney.
    
2. Beta-adrenergic agonist : collect one pound of liver and one pound of muscle for ractopamine, and for clenbuterol collect one pound of liver and both eyeballs.
    
3. Prepare and identify these tissues in accordance with normal residue sampling procedures.
   
   

1. Block 10 Project Name; Record "SPC
2. Block 16 Name and address of owner. When ownership has recently changed, provide identification of both the producer and the current owner, if possible.
3. Block 21 Residue Class Code: Record "560"
4. Specific Residue: Record "561" for clenbuterol and "569" for ractopamine. If STOP, FAST, or SOS is also done, (because of insufficient space) record in Block 24 – Residue Class Code 200/800.
5. Block 22 Tissue: Check "Liver," "Muscle," and "Kidney" for antibiotic/sulfas.
6. Tissue: Check "Liver" and "Muscle" for ractopamine.
7. Tissue: Check "Liver" and "Eyeballs" for clenbuterol.
8. Block 23 Record any man-made identification device information (back tags, ear tags, tattoos, etc.).
9. Block 24 Related information:
    
   1. Record "antibiotic and sulfas" and/or "clenbuterol or ractopamine."
   2. Record whether the carcass was retained pending laboratory findings.
   3. Record overflow information from other blocks (see #21 above).
   4. Record the name and location of the livestock show.
   5. If the animal was reported to FSIS as having a positive live animal beta-adrenergic agonist test, record the following:
      1. Positive "_________________" test
      2. Date of test
      3. Name of facility performing the test
      4. Name, title, and address of non-FSIS official reporting the test

Philip S. Derfler /s/

Assistant Administrator
Office of Policy, Program, and Employee Development