NCFA and CCA submitted a letter on ‘Consultation: Proposal to amend the list of maximum residue limits for veterinary drugs in foods – Proposed MRL 2025-1’.
Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid that has been used safely and effectively in Canadian cattle production for decades. Despite its long-standing use, the lack of published MRLs historically required veterinarians to rely on recommendations from the Canadian Global Food Animal Residue Avoidance Databank (CgFARAD), which has advised a withdrawal period of 10 days. With the recent publication of research by Chicoine et al. (2023) and subsequent consultation with industry, the inclusion of dexamethasone in Health Canada’s amended List of MRLs for Veterinary Drugs in Foods represents a meaningful advancement in veterinary drug regulation.