Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has disputed media reports linking meat consumption during the withdrawal period of veterinary drugs to liver and kidney diseases, including cancerous tumors.
The ministry explained that the withdrawal period for veterinary drugs depends on the active ingredient and method of administration, and is classified into three categories: infection-control
vaccines with a globally specified withdrawal period, viral diseases' antibiotics with a precise withdrawal period, and external inflammatory diseases' mastitis-abscess, which have a temporary withdrawal period.
The Ministry and the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plants and Animal Diseases oversee 380 slaughterhouses in the Kingdom, ensuring animals have not been injected with veterinary products by inspecting carcasses post-slaughter.
Over 1,050 veterinarians examine over 22,000 carcasses daily for safety and freedom from disease, injuries, or injections.
The ministry urges citizens and residents to use official slaughterhouses and monitors veterinary product use in animal health fields, conducting inspections to ensure establishments adhere to standards and clarify withdrawal periods for consumers.
The regulatory authorities in the Kingdom have a thorough process for approving veterinary drugs with stringent standards.
The ministry conducts inspections of veterinary pharmacies to ensure proper storage conditions, valid expiration dates, and adherence to precise prescription of medicines.
Consumers are provided with accurate information on withdrawal periods, dosages, necessary time for withdrawal, and methods of administration to increase awareness among breeders.