Two farmers have been fined a total of $2500 after sending bobby calves to slaughter that later tested positive for veterinary medicine residues.
Stephen Begbie from Paeroa and his company Begbie Farms Ltd, and Andrew James, of Palmerston North, pleaded guilty and were fined for failing to comply with a notice made under the Animal Products Act.
While the levels did not pose a risk to human health, the Food Safety Authority says the case serves as a reminder that farmers must follow instructions for dosage rates and withholding times on product labels.
FSA assistant director Justin Rowlands says the residue levels could have endangered the access of New Zealand's products to other markets.
