Salmon florfenicol permit cancelled

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) has cancelled the Tasmanian salmon industry's permit to use the antibiotic florfenicol.

The cancellation of the permit comes after the Authority on 20 February gave the industry notice of the intended cancellation, following detections of the antibiotic more than 10 kilometres from treatment sites.

There was particular concern about the effects of the antibiotic after florfenicol was detected in both rocklobster and abalone, potentially putting at risk Tasmania's lucrative export markets.

"The APVMA has suspended the emergency permit...for the use of florfenicol in salmon in Tasmania, on the basis of unacceptable risk of residue exposure to non-target species", the APVMA said in a statement.

"Information received by the APVMA on 2 March has been reviewed, and it has been concluded that there was no new data, or any evidence of measures that would address the APVMA's concerns."

The APVMA said that the permit has been suspended and the product can no longer be used under the previous permit, effective from yesterday (4 March).