What is clenbuterol?

"Clenbuterol" belongs to the adrenergic receptor (mainly β-receptor) agonist class of substances, the scientific name is β-agonist, it can inhibit the production of fat in animals, the general leptin contains clenbuterol hydrochloride, ractopamine and so on. According to the structure, it can be classified into three major categories: aniline-type, phenol-type and phenol-diol-type. Next, Foodmate will give you a detailed introduction to what is "Clenbuterol" and how countries regulate it. The next step is to give you a detailed introduction to what is "Clenbuterol" and how countries regulate "Clenbuterol" .

"Clenbuterol" remains in animal tissues, and this substance is stable and resistant to high temperatures, so its structure cannot be destroyed by ordinary cooking methods. Studies have shown that if consumers consume livestock products containing "clenbuterol" for a long time, it will directly harm human health. In 2021, CCTV's "3·15" evening news reported that some sheep farmers in Qing County, Hebei Province, secretly mixed "clenbuterol" into their feed to increase the meat yield of fattening sheep. To evade inspections by regulatory authorities, farmers would mix a few "green sheep" that had not been fed "clenbuterol" into the "clenbuterol" sheep during transportation to cope with inspections.

Regulatory Measures on "Clenbuterol" in China

The use of "clenbuterol" poses a significant threat to the healthy development of animal husbandry and the safety of livestock products. To ensure the quality and safety of livestock products, China has explicitly banned the use of "clenbuterol" in animal farming. 

In February 2002, the former Ministry of Agriculture issued the "Catalog of Drug Categories Prohibited from Use in Feed and Animal Drinking Water," banning the use of clenbuterol hydrochloride, ractopamine, dopamine hydrochloride, and other substances in feed and animal drinking water. In August of the same year, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate jointly issued the "Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the Concrete Application of Laws in Handling Criminal Cases Involving the Illegal Production, Sale, and Use of Drugs Prohibited in Feed and Animal Drinking Water," clarifying the sentencing basis for illegal production, sale, and use of "clenbuterol." In December of the same year, the former Ministry of Agriculture issued the "Maximum Residue Limits of Veterinary Drugs in Animal-Derived Foods" (now replaced), stipulating that clenbuterol and salbutamol must not be detected in all edible tissues of all food animals. 

In addition to regulatory requirements, the former Ministry of Agriculture has conducted routine monitoring of "clenbuterol" residues in livestock products since 2001, focusing on feed and farming links to continuously carry out special rectification measures.

International Regulatory Requirements for "clenbuterol"

International organizations and various countries have also formulated relevant regulations for the control of "ractopamine". For example, the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) has set limits for clenbuterol hydrochloride and other substances in animal foods; Australia prohibits the use of clenbuterol hydrochloride in food-producing animals; South Korea stipulates that clenbuterol hydrochloride cannot be detected in all foods; Japan has set limits for ractopamine in some foods and prohibits the detection of clenbuterol in some animal foods.

Conclusion

Although China has explicitly banned the use of "clenbuterol" and the relevant departments have taken many measures in the supervision of "clenbuterol", illegal production and use of "clenbuterol" still occur occasionally. Due to different regulatory requirements at home and abroad, import enterprises need to pay special attention to ensure that their products comply with China's requirements, strictly control product quality, and provide comprehensive chain protection.