Annual Reports on Surveillance and Monitoring for Harmful Chemical Substances in Animal Feed (in the fiscal year 2017)

1 Mycotoxins

A total of 137 formula feed samples and 235 feed ingredient samples of 27 types was subjected to monitoring program conducted by FAMIC (Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center) for 27 mycotoxins. MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) has set the action level (the value which must not be exceeded) for aflatoxin B1 and the advisory levels (the guidance level to confirm the effectiveness of control measures taken by feed manufacturers to reduce contamination) for mycotoxins. The results of monitoring for aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol and zearalenone regulated by the levels from April 2017 to March 2018 are summarized as follows.

1.1 Aflatoxin B1

A total of 129 formula feed samples was analyzed for aflatoxin B1. The highest value was 0.003 mg/kg in formula feed for layers. No samples exceeded the action level (0.01 mg/kg for formula feed for milking cows) and the advisory levels (0.01 mg/kg for growing animals, 0.02 mg/kg for other livestock).
A total of 173 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for aflatoxin B1. No corn samples exceeded the advisory levels (0.02 mg/kg).The highest values in each feed ingredient were as follows:
0.006 mg/kg in corn imported from the USA,
0.002 mg/kg in soybean meal imported from India,
0.0008 mg/kg in milo imported from Argentina,
0.0004 mg/kg in the domestic wheat bran and
0.0003 mg/kg in corn DDGS imported from the USA.

1.2 Deoxynivalenol

A total of 129 formula feed samples was analyzed for deoxynivalenol. The highest value was 2.0 mg/kg in formula feed for breeding cows. No samples exceeded the advisory levels (4 mg/kg for formula feed for the cattle (over 3 month-old), 1 mg/kg for formula feed for the other livestock).
A total of 213 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for deoxynivalenol. The highest values in each feed ingredient were as follows:
4.8 mg/kg in corn DDGS imported from the USA,
4.3 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten feed,
4.3 mg/kg in corn gluten feed imported from China,
1.8 mg/kg in corn imported from the USA,
1.2 mg/kg in the domestic barley bran,
1.0 mg/kg in the domestic hominy feed and
1.0 mg/kg in the domestic wheat bran.

1.3 Zearalenone

A total of 129 formula feed samples was analyzed for zearalenone. The highest value was 0.33 mg/kg in formula feed for finishing broiler. No samples exceeded the advisory level (1 mg/kg for formula feed for livestock).
A total of 204 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for zearalenone. The highest values in each ingredient were as follows:
1.0 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten meal,
0.9 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten feed,
0.86 mg/kg in corn DDGS imported from the USA,
0.33 mg/kg in corn imported from the USA,
0.33 mg/kg in milo imported from the USA and
0.036 mg/kg in the domestic wheat bran.

2 Heavy metals

A total of 88 formula feed samples and feed ingredient samples such as fish meal was subjected to monitoring program conducted by FAMIC for cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury, which were established the advisory levels by MAFF.

2.1 Cadmium

A total of 53 formula feed samples was analyzed for cadmium. The highest value was 0.26 mg/kg in formula feed for layers. No samples exceeded the advisory level (1 mg/kg).
A total of 34 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for cadmium. The highest value was 1.6 mg/kg in the domestic fish meal. No samples exceeded the advisory level (3 mg/kg).

2.2 Lead

A total of 53 formula feed samples was analyzed for lead. The highest value was 2.5 mg/kg in formula feed for milking cows. No samples exceeded the advisory level (3 mg/kg).
A total of 34 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for lead. The highest value was 1.4 mg/kg in the domestic fish meal. No samples exceeded the advisory level (7 mg/kg).

2.3 Mercury

A total of 53 formula feed samples was analyzed for mercury. The highest value was 0.08 mg/kg in formula feed for growing piglets. No samples exceeded the advisory level (0.4 mg/kg).
A total of 35 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for mercury. The highest value was 0.54 mg/kg in the domestic fish meal. No samples exceeded the advisory level (1 mg/kg).

2.4 Arsenic

A total of 53 formula feed samples was analyzed for arsenic. The highest value was 1.1 mg/kg in formula feed for growing piglets. No samples exceeded the advisory level (2mg/kg).
A total of 34 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for arsenic. The highest value was 8.3 mg/kg in the domestic fish meal. No samples exceeded the advisory level (15 mg/kg).

3 Agricultural chemicals

Formula feed and feed ingredient samples were subjected to the monitoring program conducted by FAMIC for total of 49,385 data for 126 agricultural chemicals. No samples exceeded the maximum residue limit set by MAFF.
For formula feeds, a total of 120 samples was tested for 124 agricultural chemicals.
As a result, the following 7 agricultural chemicals were detected:
Chlorpyrifos-methyl was detected in 2 samples and the value highest was 500 µg/kg.
Chlorpropham was detected in one sample and the value was 160 µg/kg.
Deltamethrin and tralomethrin were detected in 3 samples and the value highest was 92 µg/kg.
Bifenthrin was detected in one sample and the value was 24 µg/kg.
Pirimiphos-methyl was detected in 20 samples and the value highest was 140 µg/kg.
Fenitrothion was detected in one sample and the value was 30 µg/kg.
Malathion was detected in one sample and the value was 290 µg/kg.

For feed ingredients, a total of 280 samples was tested for 126 agricultural chemicals.
As a result, the following 14 agricultural chemicals were detected:
Atrazine was detected in one sample and the value was 24 µg/kg in tall fescue imported from the USA.
Isoprothiolane was detected in one sample and the value was 57 µg/kg in the domestic rice bran.
Imazapic was detected in one example and the value was 2 µg/kg in the domestic soybean meal.
Chlorpyrifos was detected in one sample and the value was 67 µg/kg in corn gluten meal imported from India.
Chlorpyrifos-methyl was detected in 10 samples and the highest value was 94 µg/kg in the domestic wheat bran.
Cyhalothrin was detected in one sample and the value was 33 µg/kg in timothy hay imported from the USA.
Deltamethrin and tralomethrin were detected in one sample and the value was 390 µg/kg in alfalfa hay imported from the USA.
Bifenthrin was detected in 2 samples and the highest value was 28 µg/kg in perennial ryegrass straw imported from the USA.
Pirimiphos-methyl was detected in 9 samples and the highest value was 270 µg/kg in corn imported from Brazil.
Fenitrothion was detected in 4 samples and the highest value was 57 µg/kg in corn imported from Brazil.
Propiconazole was detected in 5 samples and the highest value was 3,600 µg/kg in perennial ryegrass straw imported from the USA.
Permethrin was detected in one example and the value was 63 µg/kg in the domestic wheat bran.
Pendimethalin was detected in one sample and the value was 57 µg/kg in kleingrass hay imported from the USA.
Malathion was detected in 15 samples and the highest value was 64 µg/kg in corn imported from the USA.

4 Other contaminants

4.1 Melamine

A total of 13 samples of formula feed for fish was analyzed for melamine. The highest value was 0.18 mg/kg in formula feed for growing japanese tiger prawn. No samples exceeded the advisory level (2.5 mg/kg).
A total of 11 samples of fish meal was analyzed for melamine. No melamine was detected in all samples.

4.2 Nitrate form nitrogen

A total of 12 hay samples, including 4 samples of alfalfa and 8 samples of sudangrass, was analyzed for nitrate form nitrogen. The highest values of each type of hay were 520 mg/kg in alfalfa imported from the USA and 910 mg/kg in sudangrass imported from the USA. When hays containing nitrate form nitrogen exceeding 1,000 mg/kg are used for feeding, the following guideline should be referred and pay special attention to the handling of the grass.
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