# Withdrawal Period Calculator — When Milk, Meat & Eggs Are Safe After Treatment

> Free withdrawal period calculator: the date milk, meat and eggs are safe after the last dose — label periods, India rule 97 defaults and EU cascade rules.

- Source page: https://wevet.in/calculators/withdrawal-period-calculator/
- Type: Calculator
- Publisher: WeVet
- Updated: 2026-11-01
- Audience: veterinarians and veterinary students

The date and time milk, meat (slaughter) and eggs can be used after the last treatment — from the label withdrawal period, the Indian standard periods, or the EU off-label (cascade) rules.

Use the free interactive calculator: https://wevet.in/calculators/withdrawal-period-calculator/

## Inputs

- Date of the last treatment
- Time of the last treatment (optional)
- Withdrawal period from: The product label (any country) · India — label gives no period (standard: milk 7 d, eggs 7 d, meat 28 d) · EU — product not authorised for food animals (meat 28 d, milk 7 d, eggs 10 d) · EU — authorised for another species (label period × 1.5)
- Milk withdrawal on the label
- Milk period in: hours · days
- Meat withdrawal on the label (days)
- Egg withdrawal on the label (days)

## How it is calculated

**Safe from** = date and time of the last treatment + withdrawal period.

**India:** for antibiotics whose label gives no withdrawal period, a standard period applies — at least one week for milk and eggs, 28 days for poultry and meat products, and 500 degree-days for fish [1].

**European Union (off-label use, Article 115):** meat — the longest label meat period × 1.5, or at least 28 days if the product is not authorised for food-producing animals; milk — the longest label milk period × 1.5, or at least 7 days; eggs — × 1.5, or at least 10 days [2].

The calculator rounds any part day up. If no time is entered, it counts from the end of that day.

## Worked example

Last dose 1 Jan 2026 at 08:00, label gives no period (India): milk from 8 Jan 08:00, meat from 29 Jan 08:00.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the withdrawal period for milk in India if the label does not give one?

Under the rule 97 amendment, milk from animals treated with an antibiotic that has no label withdrawal period must be held for at least one week; eggs one week and meat 28 days [1].

### What withdrawal period applies to off-label (cascade) use in the EU?

The longest label withdrawal period for the food type multiplied by 1.5; if the product is not authorised for food-producing animals, at least 28 days for meat, 7 days for milk and 10 days for eggs [2].

## References

[1] Health ministry sets timeframe for keeping animals treated with antibiotics out of food chain (Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, rule 97 amendment) — Down To Earth (India) (2012). https://downtoearth.org.in/environment/health-ministry-sets-timeframe-for-keeping-animals-treated-with-antibiotics-out-of-food-chain--37985
[2] Regulation (EU) 2019/6 on veterinary medicinal products — Article 115: Withdrawal period for medicinal products used outside the terms of the marketing authorisation — European Parliament and Council (text via legislation.gov.uk) (2019). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2019/6/article/115

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Numbers in [brackets] cite the references above. For veterinary professionals. Information supports — never replaces — clinical judgement; always check the current product label and local regulations.
Ask follow-up questions in WeVet (free AI assistant for veterinarians): https://wevet.in/