Multiclass Method to Analyze Banned Veterinary Drugs in Casings by LC-MS/MS: A Validation Study According to Regulation (EU) 2021/808.

Abstract

Following the new (EU) regulation 2022/2292 with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of consignments of food-producing animals and certain goods intended for human consumption, a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method has been optimized to identify and quantify 17 banned veterinary drugs in dry or brined casings from different species. Casings are used to manufacture various meat specialties (sausages,···) in Europe, and it is important to take into account the risk of contamination of these manufactured casings entering the European Union. The metabolites of seven nitrofurans, seven nitroimidazoles, chloramphenicol, and dapsone were simultaneously identified and quantified by the developed standard operating procedure, which was successfully validated according to the criteria of the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808, using the regulatory limits or levels of interest in force in Europe. The reliability of the method has been demonstrated by the analysis of proficiency testing reference materials. Additional data on a challenged nitrofuran marker residue are discussed.