Betamethasone (Veterinary Medicinal Products)

The Food Safety Commission of Japan (FSCJ) conducted a risk assessment of betamethasone (CAS No. 37-44-9), a synthetic adrenocortical hormone, based on the documents including assessment reports from the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA). Among results of various studies, a no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of betamethasone (as betamethasone dipropionate) was shown as 0.02 mg/kg bw per day in a fertility and early embryonic development study in rats. FSCJ concluded that it is appropriate to set an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of betamethasone by applying the same ADI as dexamethasone. The ADI for dexamethasone at 0.01 μg/kg bw per day (0.00001 mg/kg bw/day) was specified based on the NOAEL of 0.001 mg/kg bw per day of the endocrine toxicity study in rats(1)). Consequently, FSCJ specified the ADI for betamethasone at 0.01 μg/kg bw per day.