May 25, 2004
Consent Decree Filed in Tissue Residue Case
On May 14, 2004 , a Consent Decree of Permanent Inju nc tion was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Amarillo Division, for Richard Hayes of Hereford , Texas , doing business as various livestock companies. Mr. Hayes is a livestock dealer who delivered animals for sale for slaughter as human food. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Inspection Service found that some of these animals had residues of new animal drugs above permitted levels. The drugs i nc luded antibiotics such as penicillin, neomycin, gentamicin, tilmicosin, and sulfonamides i nc luding sulfadimethoxine and sulfamethazine. Under the Court-ordered Consent Decree, among other things, Mr. Hayes will develop standard operating procedures to prevent the purchase and sale for human food of animals that have been medicated and not held from slaughter for appropriate amounts of time to deplete potentially hazardous residues; will identify animals; will maintain records of purchase, drug use, and sale; and will train employees.
Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof, Director of FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine said, “These measures are important as part of an overall residue avoida nc e program. Identifying and implementing control measures for drug and chemical residues is an important part of FDA's mission of protection of the public health.”
FDA's Dallas District Office conducted the investigation that lead to this Consent Decree. FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine Division of Complia nc e and the Office of the Chief Counsel, and the United States Department of Justice's Office of Consumer Litigation, and the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Texas were responsible for processing and filing the case.
Issued by:
FDA, Center for Veterinary Medicine,
Communications Staff, HFV-12
7519 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855
Telephone: (240) 276-9300 FAX: (240) 276-9115
Internet Web Site: http://www.fda.gov/cvm
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