Moldova: Metronidazole Contamination Threatens Public Health
Regulatory authorities in Moldova have ordered the mass destruction of poultry and eggs after routine testing detected prohibited concentrations of the drug Metronidazole. The National Food Safety Agency (ANSA) has mandated the seizure and destruction of approximately 130,000 eggs and more than 100,000 broilers, along with significant quantities of animal feed.
An epidemiological investigation suggests that the contamination originated from tainted feed imported from Ukraine. The use of metronidazole in food-producing animals has been banned in the European Union since the 1990s, a restriction that Moldova formally adopted in 2011. In December 2025, Moldova achieved a significant economic milestone by receiving official authorization to export poultry products to the EU.
The use of metronidazole in livestock intended for human consumption is strictly prohibited because the substance is classified as a potential carcinogen and genotoxic. Owing to these properties, it is not possible to establish a safe Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) or Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for food products. Consequently, metronidazole is subject to a zero-tolerance policy in international regulatory frameworks governing food-producing animals.
