Avoparcin Chemical Review

Avoparcin is a gram-positive glycopeptide antibiotic used in livestock feed for growth promotion in broiler chickens, growing pigs, calves and beef cattle. Avoparcin is also used as an aid in the prevention of necrotic enteritis in poultry.

There are currently no registered products containing avoparcin in Australia.

The registrants did not renew the registration of their products after 30 June 2000 and voluntarily withdrew avoparcin from the market.

The APVMA completed the assessment of the residues data but did not continue with the review, as it was not likely to be completed before the withdrawal of avoparcin products from the market. The conclusions of the residues assessment are in the APVMA’s Avoparcin status document.

The APVMA will reactivate the review of avoparcin if the registrations of any products containing avoparcin are renewed. Any applicant interested in registering products containing avoparcin must provide data in accordance with the APVMA’s Manual of requirements and guidelines. Applicants must also provide a risk analysis of microbial resistance safety as outlined in the Guidelines for registering vet chemicals, Part 10, Special data requirements.

In 2006, the APVMA withdrew the maximum residue limit (MRL) for avoparcin.