Nov. 5 (UPI) -- China returned two containers of Uruguayan beef after detecting residue of the antiparasitic drug fluazuron, which is used to control ticks in cattle.
The incident prompted the Uruguayan government to announce emergency measures to reinforce sanitary controls and maintain confidence in its main export market.
Uruguay's Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries said the contamination resulted from failure to comply with withdrawal periods, meaning the length of time that must pass between administering the medication and slaughtering the animal.
Fluazuron requires at least 42 days for residue to clear from the animal's system, but shorter treatment cycles most likely caused the presence of the compound in the meat, officials said.
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