Following data which classified furazolidone as a mutagenic and genotoxic drug, legislation was enforced to remove this and similar compounds from the market. Since data concerning the toxicity of furaltadone, nitrofurazone and nitrofurantoin were insufficient, the European Union (EU) prohibited the use of nitrofuran antibiotics in food-producing animals by listing them in Annex IV of the Council Regulation 2377/90 [1]. Furazolidone was moved to Annex IV in June 1995 because the manufacturers were not able to provide any favourable data to justify further use. As a consequence, with effect from 1 January 1997, the application of all nitrofurans to food-producing animals in the EU is no longer allowed.