Antibiotics are used in cattle breeding to fight or prevent infections in productive livestock. The GMP+ FSA scheme includes strict rules for controlling these residual levels which have been laid down in the legislation. Nevertheless it is unavoidable in the production of medicated feed that a small amount of this feed (including the antibiotic) remains behind on the production line. Productive livestock is still exposed to residual antibiotics through carry-over to other feeds which are produced subsequently on the same production line. This contributes to the development of resistance to antibiotics.
The Dutch feed industry is aiming for antibiotics-free feeds. For this reason GMP+ International has developed a Country Note especially for the Dutch market: GMP+ BCN-NL1 Antibiotics-free feed. By applying this Country Note a compound feed company makes a contribution to a substantial reduction in the exposure to (residual) antibiotics, especially because there is no longer any carry-over of feeds in which antibiotics have been used. In addition to their GMP+ B1 certificate, compound feed companies may have themselves certified additionally for this Country Note.
Regarding dioxin-monitoring in feeds for layers, strict standards could be included in the GMP+ FSA scheme for poultry feed (and raw materials), based on EU legislation. However, it is possible that a laying hen (rearing) feed meets the requirements, but still causes the standard for dioxin in the eggs to be exceeded. This is due to the fact that the standard for dioxin in laying hens (rearing) feed and the standard for dioxin in eggs have not been coordinated properly.
The Dutch egg sector wants to prevent the dioxin standard in eggs from being exceeded. Therefore, an action limit has been agreed with the Dutch feed sector for dioxin in laying hen feed that is lower than the (statutory) action limit as included in GMP+ BA1 Product standards. This was established in Country Note GMP+ BCN-NL2 Dioxin-monitoring in laying hens (rearing) feed. In addition to this lower action limit, this country note also includes conditions for a more strict dioxin monitoring and the active notification to the poultry farmer when the action limit and rejection limit is exceeded.
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