//06 Jun 2011
The European Feed Safety Authority (EFSA) Dietary and Chemical Monitoring Unit has issued a report on the occurrence of veterinary drugs residues in animals and animal products in Europe. The report is based on data for 2009 provided by the EU Member States to the European Commission.
Altogether, there were 764,736 samples reported in the framework of the 2009 residue monitoring in the EU. A total of 484,087 samples (445,968 targeted samples, 38,119 suspect samples) were reported under the Council Directive 96/23/EC.
From the total of collected targeted samples, 40.9 % were analysed for substances having anabolic effect and prohibited substances (group A) and 63.1 % for veterinary drugs and contaminants (group B).
There were 1,406 non-compliant samples (0.32 %) (1,493 non-compliant results) out of the 445,968 targeted samples. This situation was similar to the one in 2008 when 0.34 % of the targeted samples were non-compliant.
The percentage of non-compliant samples calculated from the total number of samples analysed for substances in that category was: 0.18 % for substances having anabolic effect and prohibited substances (A), 0.21 % for antibacterials (B1), 0.30 % for “other veterinary drugs” (B2), and 1.08 % for “other substances and environmental contaminants” (B3).
Hormones
Of all the targeted samples analysed for the category “hormones” in all animal/product categories, 0.26 % were non-compliant. As in 2008, there were no non-compliant samples for stilbenes and derivatives (A1).
For antithyroid agents (A2), there were 0.46 % non-compliant samples, all for thiouracil, but most likely caused by feeding cruciferous plants. In the group of steroids (A3), which includes some results on corticosteroids, there have been 0.39 % non-compliant samples in all animal and product categories.
The non-compliant samples were found in bovines (0.34 %), pigs (0.30 %), sheep and goats (3.65 %), horses (1.27 %), poultry (0.05 %), and aquaculture (0.46 %).
The most frequent identified anabolic steroids were alpha-boldenone (n = 65), nandrolone (64), and epinandrolone (17). However, several Member States claimed that residues of boldenone-alpha and epinandrolone (19-norepitestosterone) were more likely of endogenous nature.
The majority of incidences of non-compliance for corticosteroids were reported in bovines (48). Substances identified were dexamethasone (43), prednisolone (16), and prednisone (5).
In the group of resorcylic acid lactones (A4), 0.17 % of the samples were non-compliant for zearanol and taleranol. For beta-agonists (A5), only two non-compliant samples were detected in 2009 (0.01 %).
Prohibited substances
For prohibited substances (A6), 0.07 % of the samples were found to be non-compliant. Substances identified were chloramphenicol (25), nitrofurans (25) and nitroimidazoles (9).
For antibacterials (B1), 0.21 % of the samples analysed under Directive 96/23 were non-compliant. Additionally, Germany reported non-compliant results from applying inhibitor tests. The highest frequencies of non-compliant samples for antibacterials were found in honey (0.98 %), rabbit meat (0.63 %), and aquaculture (0.48 %).
Other veterinary drugs
There were 0.26 % non-compliant samples for substances in the category “other veterinary drugs” (B2). A relatively high proportion of non-compliant samples was found for anticoccidials (B2b): 2.05 % in poultry, 1.19 % in eggs, 4.44 % in rabbits, and 0.54 % in farmed game. Non-compliances for anthelmintics (B2a) were reported in bovines (0.14 %), pigs (0.1 %), sheep and goats (0.28 %), aquaculture (0.39 %), and milk (0.3 %).
For carbamates and pyrethroids (B2c), there was only one non-compliant sample in pigs, and one in wild game. No non-compliant sample was reported for sedatives (B2d).
For non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (B2e) there were non-compliant samples in bovines (0.13 %), sheep and goats (0.2 %), horses (0.6 %), poultry (0.46 %), milk (0.03 %), and rabbits (1.39 %).
Non-compliant samples for “other pharmacologically active substances” (B2f) were reported in bovines (0.37 %), poultry (0.2 %), and pigs (0.09 %).
There were 1.08 % non-compliant samples in the group of “other substances and environmental contaminants (B3)”. The highest percentage of non-compliant samples in almost all species was found for chemical elements (B3c) (2.25 %).
Heavy metals
Cadmium, lead, and mercury were the most frequently reported elements. Instances of non-compliance for organochlorine compounds (B3a) and organophosphorus compounds (B3b) were much lower: 0.19 % and 0.04 %, respectively.
For mycotoxins (B3d), nine non-compliant samples for ochratoxin A in pigs, one for aflatoxin B1 in sheep and goats, and five for aflatoxin M1 in milk were reported.
Dyes (B3e) were reported in aquaculture (1.6 %). Substances found were malachite green and leuco-malachite-green.
The residue situation in 2009 was similar to the two previous years for all substance groups. However, because the sampling plan and the spectrum of analysed substances were not necessarily the same over the three years, such comparisons should be regarded as having a high degree of uncertainty.
Source: EFSA report
07 June 2011
Salt loving plants in India
//06 Jun 2011
The area in Tamil Nadu state will house dozens of species of halophytes - or salt-loving plants - that can be used for producing cash crops. A pilot project to see if cash crops can be grown in the salty ground of India's coastal areas was launched in 2010.
Halophytes can be used to produce edible oils, medicines, vegetables, and cattle and fish feed. Halophytes can be found throughout the coastal areas of India.
Saline water plants can also be used to produce fine chemicals, biofuels and even building materials. Field studies conducted in the US and East Africa have suggested that halophytes such as sea asparagus can be grown as commercial crops.
The area in Tamil Nadu state will house dozens of species of halophytes - or salt-loving plants - that can be used for producing cash crops. A pilot project to see if cash crops can be grown in the salty ground of India's coastal areas was launched in 2010.
Halophytes can be used to produce edible oils, medicines, vegetables, and cattle and fish feed. Halophytes can be found throughout the coastal areas of India.
Saline water plants can also be used to produce fine chemicals, biofuels and even building materials. Field studies conducted in the US and East Africa have suggested that halophytes such as sea asparagus can be grown as commercial crops.
Cargill acquires Pipasa poultry business
//03 Jun 2011
Cargill in Central America has combined its operations with Corporacion Pipasa, a leading poultry and meat processor in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed and all regulatory approvals have been completed.
Pipasa produces beef, pork, chicken and turkey products in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The company has five processing plants, four animal feed facilities and 12 distribution centers.
The combination with Pipasa will be an important addition to Cargill’s existing retail-branded business in Central America that processes and distributes chilled and frozen poultry and luncheon meats to large and small food retailers throughout Central America.
“Cargill has been involved in the poultry business in Central America for more than 45 years,” said Bruce Burdett, the leader of Cargill’s operations in Central America. “The combination of Cargill and Pipasa will create a business that will help meet the increased demand for high-quality food in Central America.”
The long-term outlook for poultry, poultry feed and processed meats is strong, Burdett said. As incomes rise in Central America, more people will add more chicken and processed meats to their diets.
Source: Cargill
Cargill in Central America has combined its operations with Corporacion Pipasa, a leading poultry and meat processor in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
The terms of the transaction have not been disclosed and all regulatory approvals have been completed.
Pipasa produces beef, pork, chicken and turkey products in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. The company has five processing plants, four animal feed facilities and 12 distribution centers.
The combination with Pipasa will be an important addition to Cargill’s existing retail-branded business in Central America that processes and distributes chilled and frozen poultry and luncheon meats to large and small food retailers throughout Central America.
“Cargill has been involved in the poultry business in Central America for more than 45 years,” said Bruce Burdett, the leader of Cargill’s operations in Central America. “The combination of Cargill and Pipasa will create a business that will help meet the increased demand for high-quality food in Central America.”
The long-term outlook for poultry, poultry feed and processed meats is strong, Burdett said. As incomes rise in Central America, more people will add more chicken and processed meats to their diets.
Source: Cargill
Lithuania reports outbreak of Classical Swine Fever - origin still unclear
//03 Jun 2011
Lithuania has reported an outbreak of Classical Swine Fever to the world Organization for Animal Health (OIE) on June 1.
The disease was suspected one day earlier on the pig farm of the joint stock company Berzs Kompleksas, located in the village of Sils, near the city of Kaunas, in the heart of the country.
The outbreak of CSF was confirmed by the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute (NFVRAI), which is the designated National Reference Laboratory for CSF of Lithuania.
Susceptible
The farm had 15,919 swine and all were reported to be susceptible to the virus – but so far details about mortality or culling figures are not known. Vaccination to CSF is prohibited and the affected animals will not be treated – after stamping out, the premises will be completely disinfected.
All the CSF eradication and prevention measures have been applied in the outbreak and around it.
Measures applied
A standstill regime for pigs is introduced in the whole territory of Lithuania for trade and export. No movement, no trade (in or out) of pigs from the infected farm was done to EU countries. On all the industrial pig farms of Lithuania which export live pigs, trade in pigs with other EU member states and move pigs within the country, clinical and laboratory examination starts to be performed. Wildlife is also controlled.
Although the strain (type 2.1) is identical to an outbreak in July/August 2009, so far the origin of the outbreak is unknown. Infection through wild boar is not suspected. State Food and Veterinary Services will start an investigation of the outbreak and all the measures.
Related website:
• World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
Lithuania has reported an outbreak of Classical Swine Fever to the world Organization for Animal Health (OIE) on June 1.
The disease was suspected one day earlier on the pig farm of the joint stock company Berzs Kompleksas, located in the village of Sils, near the city of Kaunas, in the heart of the country.
The outbreak of CSF was confirmed by the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Institute (NFVRAI), which is the designated National Reference Laboratory for CSF of Lithuania.
Susceptible
The farm had 15,919 swine and all were reported to be susceptible to the virus – but so far details about mortality or culling figures are not known. Vaccination to CSF is prohibited and the affected animals will not be treated – after stamping out, the premises will be completely disinfected.
All the CSF eradication and prevention measures have been applied in the outbreak and around it.
Measures applied
A standstill regime for pigs is introduced in the whole territory of Lithuania for trade and export. No movement, no trade (in or out) of pigs from the infected farm was done to EU countries. On all the industrial pig farms of Lithuania which export live pigs, trade in pigs with other EU member states and move pigs within the country, clinical and laboratory examination starts to be performed. Wildlife is also controlled.
Although the strain (type 2.1) is identical to an outbreak in July/August 2009, so far the origin of the outbreak is unknown. Infection through wild boar is not suspected. State Food and Veterinary Services will start an investigation of the outbreak and all the measures.
Related website:
• World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)
CP Pokphand acquires integrated livestock leader in Vietnam
//03 Jun 2011
CP Pokphand (CPP), a Chinese provider of animal nutrition solutions in the food industry, will acquire a 70.82% interest in CP Vietnam Livestock Corporation (CPVL), a leading integrated livestock and aquaculture company in Vietnam.
CPP will acquire the interest from the Bangkok, Thailand-based Charoen Pokphand Group (CPG), its majority shareholder, for about HK$4,735 million (US$609 million).
CPP is the investment arm in China of this same Charoen Pokphand Group, and is known in China as ‘Chia Tai’, CPP and its subsidiaries have been investing and working in China since the country first opened its doors to foreign investment in the late 1970s.
Unique opportunity
As one of the largest corporate acquisitions in Vietnam, the deal represents a unique opportunity for CPP to acquire a controlling stake in a market leader and expand into one of the fastest growing feed and farming markets in South East Asia. The acquisition enables CPP to broaden and diversify its business base.
Established in Vietnam in 1993, CPVL’s integrated livestock and aquaculture businesses span the entire food production value chain, from the manufacturing and distribution of animal feed, to breeding and farming of livestock and aquatic animals, as well as processing and production of meat and food products.
CPVL commands a leading position with approximately 20% of commercial feed market, 77% of industrial swine farming markets and 30% of broiler farming markets in Vietnam. For the year ended 2010, CPVL recorded an audited total revenue and net profit of VND20,077,880 million (US$1,046.5 million) and VND964,584 million (US$50.3 million), respectively.
Related websites:
Charoen Pokphand Group
CP Charoen (Chia Tai)
CP Pokphand (CPP), a Chinese provider of animal nutrition solutions in the food industry, will acquire a 70.82% interest in CP Vietnam Livestock Corporation (CPVL), a leading integrated livestock and aquaculture company in Vietnam.
CPP will acquire the interest from the Bangkok, Thailand-based Charoen Pokphand Group (CPG), its majority shareholder, for about HK$4,735 million (US$609 million).
CPP is the investment arm in China of this same Charoen Pokphand Group, and is known in China as ‘Chia Tai’, CPP and its subsidiaries have been investing and working in China since the country first opened its doors to foreign investment in the late 1970s.
Unique opportunity
As one of the largest corporate acquisitions in Vietnam, the deal represents a unique opportunity for CPP to acquire a controlling stake in a market leader and expand into one of the fastest growing feed and farming markets in South East Asia. The acquisition enables CPP to broaden and diversify its business base.
Established in Vietnam in 1993, CPVL’s integrated livestock and aquaculture businesses span the entire food production value chain, from the manufacturing and distribution of animal feed, to breeding and farming of livestock and aquatic animals, as well as processing and production of meat and food products.
CPVL commands a leading position with approximately 20% of commercial feed market, 77% of industrial swine farming markets and 30% of broiler farming markets in Vietnam. For the year ended 2010, CPVL recorded an audited total revenue and net profit of VND20,077,880 million (US$1,046.5 million) and VND964,584 million (US$50.3 million), respectively.
Related websites:
Charoen Pokphand Group
CP Charoen (Chia Tai)
01 June 2011
Ghent University: Web app to measure antibiotic usage in poultry farms
//01 Jun 2011
Belgium’s Ghent University launched a new web application allowing livestock producers and veterinarians to measure levels of antibiotic usage on the farms – and how to compare this to peers, Flemish agricultural website Vilt reports.
The new web application, called ABcheck, will contain a wide range of background information about antibiotic use and antibioitic resistance in animals.
Professor Jeroen Dewulf commented, “Using these data, it is possible to advise producers and veterinarians about a rational and reduced use of antibioitics.” Dewulf constructed the application in cooperation with researchers Davy Persoons and Merel Postma.
Resistance
At the moment, data around usage of antibiotics are only sparsely available. Nevertheless, the use of antibioitics is widely discussed as both in humans and in livestock, resistance to antibiotics is being observed to grow. Dewulf said, “This is mainly relevant for pathogens in the animals, but it may also apply to humans as resistant pathogens or their genes may be transferred from animals to humans.”
Especially in Europe, it is feared that decreasing amounts of antibiotics will be available that can adequately treat humans and animals. Hence, the reduction of the use of antibiotics and a prudent use of available products is considered extremely important in both animals as humans. The researchers commented, “With this tool, we’d like to provide the opportunity to everyone who is interested, to anonymously quantify, qualify and compare usage with other livestock production sites.”
The website fits into a project which is called ‘Reduction of antibiotic usage’. Experts analyse farm problems in pig and poultry facilities and can thus give very specific advices. Dewulf said, “On the one hand we’d like to step up any farm’s health, biosecurity and production levels, and on the other the usage of antibiotics will be less needed.”
Related websites:
Flemish Information Centre for Agri and Horticulture (Vilt) (in Dutch)
Ghent University
Belgium’s Ghent University launched a new web application allowing livestock producers and veterinarians to measure levels of antibiotic usage on the farms – and how to compare this to peers, Flemish agricultural website Vilt reports.
The new web application, called ABcheck, will contain a wide range of background information about antibiotic use and antibioitic resistance in animals.
Professor Jeroen Dewulf commented, “Using these data, it is possible to advise producers and veterinarians about a rational and reduced use of antibioitics.” Dewulf constructed the application in cooperation with researchers Davy Persoons and Merel Postma.
Resistance
At the moment, data around usage of antibiotics are only sparsely available. Nevertheless, the use of antibioitics is widely discussed as both in humans and in livestock, resistance to antibiotics is being observed to grow. Dewulf said, “This is mainly relevant for pathogens in the animals, but it may also apply to humans as resistant pathogens or their genes may be transferred from animals to humans.”
Especially in Europe, it is feared that decreasing amounts of antibiotics will be available that can adequately treat humans and animals. Hence, the reduction of the use of antibiotics and a prudent use of available products is considered extremely important in both animals as humans. The researchers commented, “With this tool, we’d like to provide the opportunity to everyone who is interested, to anonymously quantify, qualify and compare usage with other livestock production sites.”
The website fits into a project which is called ‘Reduction of antibiotic usage’. Experts analyse farm problems in pig and poultry facilities and can thus give very specific advices. Dewulf said, “On the one hand we’d like to step up any farm’s health, biosecurity and production levels, and on the other the usage of antibiotics will be less needed.”
Related websites:
Flemish Information Centre for Agri and Horticulture (Vilt) (in Dutch)
Ghent University
South Korea to ban antibiotics in animal feed
//01 Jun 2011
South Korea is planning to impose a total ban on the mixing of antibiotics with animal feed effective from July, Yonhap news agency reported quoted the government as a source.
It is hoped that the move will heighten consumer trust in the safety of livestock products.
“The government will impose a total ban on the addition of antibiotics to animal feed by revising rules governing animal feed production,” the farm industry said. “The new rules will enhance the safety of local meat and dairy products.”
Prior to 2005 South Korea had allowed 44 varieties of antibiotics to be mixed with feed, but gradually decreased the number when scientists warned of serious side effects of giving livestock too many antibiotics.
Under the revised rules the use of 8 varieties of antibiotics will be prohibited, along with one antimicrobial agent, the ministry said.
The ministry also stressed that once the law comes into effect violations will be dealt with sternly.
Veterinarians will still be permitted to inject antibiotics into sick animals.
South Korea is planning to impose a total ban on the mixing of antibiotics with animal feed effective from July, Yonhap news agency reported quoted the government as a source.
It is hoped that the move will heighten consumer trust in the safety of livestock products.
“The government will impose a total ban on the addition of antibiotics to animal feed by revising rules governing animal feed production,” the farm industry said. “The new rules will enhance the safety of local meat and dairy products.”
Prior to 2005 South Korea had allowed 44 varieties of antibiotics to be mixed with feed, but gradually decreased the number when scientists warned of serious side effects of giving livestock too many antibiotics.
Under the revised rules the use of 8 varieties of antibiotics will be prohibited, along with one antimicrobial agent, the ministry said.
The ministry also stressed that once the law comes into effect violations will be dealt with sternly.
Veterinarians will still be permitted to inject antibiotics into sick animals.
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