Annual Reports on Surveillance and Monitoring for Harmful Chemical Substances in Animal Feed (in the fiscal year 2018)
1 Mycotoxins
A total of 132 formula feed samples and 239 feed ingredient samples of 22 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 2018 to March 2019 are summarized as follows.
1.1 Aflatoxin B1
A total of 124 formula feed samples was analyzed for aflatoxin B1. The highest value was 0.009 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 168 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:
0.008 mg/kg in corn imported from the USA,
0.0008 mg/kg in corn DDGS imported from the USA and
0.0007 mg/kg in the domestic soybean meal.
1.2 Deoxynivalenol
A total of 124 formula feed samples was analyzed for deoxynivalenol. The highest value was 0.7 mg/kg in formula feed for dairy and beef cattles. 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 222 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for deoxynivalenol. The highest values in each feed ingredient were as follows:
2.8 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten feed,
2.1 mg/kg in corn DDGS imported from the USA,
2.0 mg/kg in corn DDG imported from the USA,
0.97 mg/kg in corn imported from the USA and
0.95 mg/kg in corn gluten meal imported from China.
1.3 Zearalenone
A total of 124 formula feed samples was analyzed for zearalenone. The highest value was 0.13 mg/kg in formula feed for finishing beef cattles. No samples exceeded the advisory level (1 mg/kg for formula feed for livestock).
A total of 200 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for zearalenone. The highest values in each feed ingredient were as follows:
0.39 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten feed,
0.35 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten meal,
0.33 mg/kg in corn imported from the USA,
0.25 mg/kg in milo imported from the USA and
0.21 mg/kg in corn DDGS imported from the USA.
2 Heavy metals
A total of 105 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 58 formula feed samples was analyzed for cadmium. The highest value was 0.31 mg/kg in formula feed for layers. No samples exceeded the advisory level (1mg/kg).
A total of 23 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for cadmium. The highest value was 2.1 mg/kg in the domestic fish meal. No samples exceeded the advisory level (3 mg/kg).
2.2 Lead
A total of 50 formula feed samples was analyzed for lead. The highest value was 0.8 mg/kg in formula feed for layers. No samples exceeded the advisory level (3 mg/kg).
A total of 22 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for lead. The highest value was 1.1 mg/kg in the domestic fish meal. No samples exceeded the advisory level (7 mg/kg).
2.3 Mercury
A total of 50 formula feed samples was analyzed for mercury. The highest value was 0.04 mg/kg in formula feed for layers and suckling piglets. No samples exceeded the advisory level (0.4 mg/kg).
A total of 23 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for mercury. The highest value was 0.65 mg/kg in the domestic fish meal. No samples exceeded the advisory level (1 mg/kg).
2.4 Arsenic
A total of 51 formula feed samples was analyzed for arsenic. The highest value was 0.61 mg/kg in formula feed for milking cows. No samples exceeded the advisory level (2 mg/kg).
Three rice straw sample imported from China were analyzed for arsenic. The highest value was 6.0 mg/kg (the advisory level: 7 mg/kg).
A total of 22 feed ingredient samples was analyzed for arsenic. The highest value was 7.7 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 382 data for 124 agricultural chemicals. No samples exceeded the maximum residue limit set by MAFF.
For formula feeds, a total of 118 samples was tested for 122 agricultural chemicals.
As a result, the following 3 agricultural chemicals were detected:
Deltamethrin and tralomethrin were detected in 2 samples and the highest value was 100 µg/kg.
Pirimiphos-methyl was detected in 6 samples and the highest value was 110 µg/kg.
Malathion was detected in one sample and the value was 35 µg/kg.
For feed ingredients, a total of 264 samples was tested for 124 agricultural chemicals.
As a result, the following 16 agricultural chemicals were detected:
Etofenprox was detected in one sample and the value was 140 µg/kg. in timothy hay imported from the USA.
Chlorthal dimethyl was detected in one sample and the value was 23 µg/kg in sudangrass imported from the USA.
Chlorpyrifos was detected in 4 samples and the highest value was 950 µg/kg in alfalfa hay imported from the USA.
Chlorpyrifos-methyl was detected in 6 samples and the highest value was 88 µg/kg in the domestic wheat bran.
Cyhalothrin was detected in 3 samples and the highest value was 130 µg/kg in the domestic corn gluten meal.
Deltamethrin and tralomethrin were detected in 2 samples and the highest value was 55 µg/kg in the domestic wheat bran.
Bifenthrin was detected in 5 samples and the highest value was 200 µg/kg in corn gluten meal imported from China.
Pirimiphos-methyl was detected in 7 samples and the highest value was 660 µg/kg in the domestic corn gluten meal.
Fenitrothion was detected in 4 samples and the highest value was 210 µg/kg in the domestic corn gluten meal.
Fenvalerate was detected in one sample and the value was 420 µg/kg in timothy hay imported from the USA.
Flucythrinate was detected in 3 samples and the highest value was 300 µg/kg in corn distiller's dried grains with solubles imported from the USA.
Flutriafol was detected in one sample and the value was 53 µg/kg in wheaten hay imported from Australia.
Propiconazole was detected in 3 samples and the highest value was 66 µg/kg in the domestic wheat bran.
Permethrin was detected in 2 samples and the highest value was 210 µg/kg in the domestic corn gluten meal.
Pendimethalin was detected in one sample and the value was 56 µg/kg in sudangrass imported from the USA.
Malathion was detected in 8 samples and the highest value was 220 µg/kg in the domestic corn gluten feed.
4 Other contaminants
4.1 Melamine
A total of 15 samples of formula feed for fish was analyzed for melamine. No melamine was detected in all samples.
A total of 14 samples of fish meal was analyzed for melamine. The highest value was 0.07 mg/kg in the domestic fish meal. No samples exceeded the advisory level (2.5 mg/kg).
4.2 Nitrate form nitrogen
A total of 6 hay samples, including one sample of alfalfa and 5 samples of sudangrass, was analyzed for nitrate form nitrogen. The highest values of each type of hay were 580 mg/kg in alfalfa imported from the USA and 740 mg/kg in sudangrass imported from the USA. When hays containing nitrate form nitrogen exceeding 1000 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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