Food Safety

Emamectin Benzoate (EMB)

Request

1. Has Food Standards Scotland commissioned any research into the effects of EMB on human health? If so please let us have details including copies of any reports that resulted. Are Food Standards Scotland aware of any research carried out by other agencies?

2. Are any guidelines or instructions in place advising operators of fish farms regarding the quarantining of caged salmon that have been fed EMB prior to their being culled and entering the human food chain? If so please supply copies.

3. Does Food Standards Scotland carry out any testing of farmed salmon either before or after culling to determine the presence of EMB? If so please supply details.

Response

1. Food Standards Scotland has not commissioned any research into the effects of EMB on human health, but is aware that both the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) have reviewed the toxicity of EMB.

2. FSS does not hold any information on this. You may wish to contact the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, which is the body that leads on veterinary residues matters.

3. FSS does not carry out any testing of farmed salmon to determine the presence of EMB.  You may wish to contact the Scottish Government Fish Health Inspectorate.