Nowadays, ensuring the safety and quality of animal feed products is of utmost importance in trade and commerce that cross international borders. In order to control and harmonize the manufacture, labeling, and distribution of these products, international standards are essential. These guidelines offer a uniform framework that supports openness, eases trade, and protects the health and welfare of animals.
The importance of international standards in animal feeding materials will be discussed in this article, along with how they support an ethical and sustainable global feed industry.
Animal feeding products - Methods of sampling and analysis - Determination of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in animal feeding products by LC-MS/MS
EN 17683:2023
International standards establish guidelines for the ingredients, manufacturing processes, and labeling of animal feed products.
By defining the acceptable limits for contaminants like heavy metals, mycotoxins, and pesticide residues, they safeguard animal health and stop dangerous substances from moving up the food chain.
EN 17683:2023 is one of these specifications.
This document describes a method for the quantitative determination of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) in the concentration ranges shown in Table 1 in complete and supplemental feed as well as in forages using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) clean-up.
The concentration ranges for each PA tested in the collaborative trial are summarized in Table 1.
NOTE 1 The main trial for method validation collaboration included a second approach.
In this method, zinc powder is added to the feed material's extract to reduce PA-N-Oxides. The following steps represent the first and primary method. Quantitative results for each PA, with the exception of the otonecine type PA senkirkine, represent the total of the free PA base and its corresponding N-oxide.
NOTE 2 Statistical evaluation was not valid for standardization because there were not enough data for some analyte-matrix combinations.
The data collected showed that the methods could be applied in skilled laboratories with the right quality control procedures.
As a result, the method description is added as an educational annex (Annex D).
Producers can give consumers confidence and promote fair trade practices by adhering to this standard, which guarantees that their products meet the necessary safety and quality standards.
Animal feed: Sampling and analysis techniques - Pediococcus spp.
detection and tally. used as a feed additive
SIST EN 15786:2022
International standards encourage uniformity and harmonization, which makes it easier for animal feed products to move freely across international borders.
In order to guarantee that goods meet the same requirements irrespective of their country of origin, they offer a common language for producers, authorities, and importers.
SIST EN 15786:2022, one of the documents that contain specifications for EU trade zones, is one such document.
In feed samples (additives, premixtures, and feeding stuffs) that contain pediococci as a single bacterial component or in a mixture with other microorganisms, this international standard specifies general guidelines for counting probiotic pediococci.
According to Council Directive 79/373/EEC, which defines mineral feeds as complementary feeding items made primarily of minerals and containing at least 40% crude ash, these feeds are exempt from this standard.
The following are various types of feed samples.
a) Substances with about 10+10 colony forming units (CFU) per gram.
b) Premixtures with approximately 10+8 CFU/g.
c) Feeds, meals, or pellets, which have a CFU content of 10+6/g and contain complete feeding ingredients and milk substitutes.
This lowers trade barriers, makes it easier to access markets, and promotes honest competition.
Additionally, standardized requirements reduce the need for numerous certification and testing processes, saving time and resources for both producers and regulatory bodies.
Animal feeding supplies: Techniques for sampling and analysis - LC-MS/MS determination of intact glucosinolates in compound feed
EN 17853:2023
In order to maintain the health and well-being of livestock, animal feeding supplies are essential. International standards put a lot of emphasis on creating feeds that promote healthy growth, reproduction, and disease resistance while also catering to the unique nutritional needs of various animal species.
EN 17853:2023, one of the most recent standards in this field of operation, is mentioned.
The method described in this document uses tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to identify individual intact glucosinolates in feed materials, including oilseeds and oilseed products, as well as compound feeds.
The method described in this document has been successfully validated through cooperative trial in the following matrices: rape seed, camelina seed, Brassica oleracea seeds, mixed oilseeds, rape seed flakes, compound feed for bovine, porcine, and poultry.
The method is applicable for the quantitative determination of epiprogroitrin, glucoalyssin, glucoarabin, glucobrassicanapin, glucobrassicin, glucocamelinin, glucoerucin, glucoiberin, gluconapin, gluconapoleiferin, gluconasturtiin, glucoraphanin, glucoraphenin, glucotropaeolin, homoglucocamelinin, 4-hydroxyglucobrassicin, 4-methoxyglucobrassicin, neoglucobrassicin, progoitrin, sinalbin and sinigrin.
Table 1 lists the concentration ranges that were examined in the joint trial for both the total amount of glucosinolates and each individual glucosinolate.
The ethical aspects of animal welfare are also covered by these standards, including the use of healthy, environmentally friendly ingredients, kind production methods,and a lack of contentious additives.
Producers support the general wellbeing and health of the animals in their care by upholding these standards.
Pentachlorophenol (PCP) levels in feed ingredients and compound feed can be determined using LC-MS/MS sampling and analysis techniques for animal feeding materials
EN 17362:2020
Sustainability in the feed industry is also encouraged by international standards for animal feed ingredients. They place a focus on minimizing environmental impact, promoting the use of sustainable agricultural practices, and sourcing raw materials responsibly.
These standards aid in lowering the environmental impacts connected to the production of feed by establishing criteria for resource efficiency, waste management, and greenhouse gas emissions.
As a result, sustainable agriculture and prudent resource management are furthered.
EN 17362:2020 is one of the standards that adheres to the aforementioned characteristics.
In order to determine the presence of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in feed components and animal feed, this document specifies a liquid chromatographic method with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (MS/MS) detection.
The maximum detectable concentration of PCP in guar gum, fatty acid distillates (FAD), and animal feed is 10 g/kg.
It is the responsibility of individual laboratories to guarantee that the tools they employ will achieve this limit of quantification.
The technique is approved in an international cooperative trial for pentachlorophenol in compound feed, guar gum, and fatty acid distillate in the range between 9 g/kg and 22 g/kg.
The results of the collaborative trial, in which 16 laboratories took part, have demonstrated that the method is applicable for the detection of PCP in compound feed, guar gum, and FAD at the desired limit of 10 g/kg.
One sample of compound feed, guar gum, and both of the FAD samples (HorRat) showed satisfactory results
Animal feeding standards around the world are constantly changing in response to new scientific discoveries and pressing problems. They are created by working together with professionals, researchers, and stakeholders from all over the world.
This guarantees that the standards are kept current with the most recent information and innovations, allowing the feed industry to adapt to changing needs and effectively address new risks.
International standards have the biggest impact
Animal feed ingredients must be safe, of high quality, and sustainable, and this is where international standards come in.
These standards encourage openness, ease market access, and protect the health and welfare of animals by establishing a uniform framework for production, labeling, and trade.
These standards must be adopted and put into practice globally if the feed industry is to be ethical and sustainable, benefiting not only the producers and consumers but also the environment and animal populations all over the world.