BACKGROUND: Micellar liquid chromatography - fluorescence detection was used to determine the antibiotics flumequine, marbofloxacin, difloxacin, and sarafloxacin in porcine, bovine, poultry, ovine, caprine, rabbit, and equine meat, to verify compliance with EU Regulation 37/2010 with regard to the occurrence of veterinary drugs in food. RESULTS: The analytes were isolated from the matrix by ultrasonication-assisted leaching in a micellar solution, and the supernatant was filtered and directly injected. The fluoroquinolones were resolved in < 19 min using a C18 column, with an isocratic mobile phase of 0.05 mol L−1 sodium dodecyl sulfate - 8% 1-butanol - 0.5% triethylamine buffered at pH 3. The limits of quantification (0.01-0.05mgkg−1) were below the maximum residue limits (0.15-0.4mgkg−1). The method was validated by EU Commission Decision 2002/657/EC guidelines. CONCLUSION: The method shows practical advantages such as simplicity, lowcost, eco-friendliness, safety, and applicability for routine analysis, and is useful for surveillance programs.