Annual Report on Surveillance and Monitoring for Harmful Chemical Substances in Animal Feed (in the fiscal year 2019)
1 Mycotoxins
FAMIC (Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center) conducts the monitoring survey of mycotoxins in formula feeds and feed ingredients. MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) set feed safety standards as action level (the value which must not be exceeded) for aflatoxin B1 and advisory levels (the guidance level to confirm the effectiveness of control measures taken by feed manufacturers to reduce contamination) for mycotoxins, for example aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and fumonisins.
Twenty-seven mycotoxins were analyzed for in 128 formula feed*1 samples and 269 feed ingredient samples in the fiscal year 2019, which started April 2019, and ended March 2020. The results of aflatoxin B1, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and fumonisins, for which action or advisory levels have been set, were as follows.
*1Including mixed feed
1.1 Aflatoxin B1
Aflatoxin B1 was analyzed for in 93 formula feed samples, and 10 samples were positive (11 %). The highest value was 0.0009 mg/kg in formula feed for growing piglets. No samples exceeded the action level (0.01 mg/kg for formula feed for milking cattle) and the advisory levels (0.01 mg/kg for formula feed for calves, piglets, chicks, and starting broilers, 0.02 mg/kg for formula feed for other livestock).
Aflatoxin B1 was analyzed for in 179 feed ingredient samples, and 20 samples were positive (11 %). Of 52 corn samples, 16 samples were positive (31 %). No corn samples exceeded the advisory level (0.02 mg/kg). The highest values in each feed ingredient were as follows:
0.005 mg/kg in corn imported from the USA,
0.004 mg/kg in milo imported from the USA,
0.002 mg/kg in corn DDGS imported from the USA and
0.001 mg/kg in the domestic soybean meal.
1.2 Deoxynivalenol
Deoxynivalenol was analyzed for in 94 formula feed samples, and 84 samples were positive (89 %). The highest value was 1.6 mg/kg in formula feed for growing piglets and this sample exceeded the advisory levels (1 mg/kg). No other samples exceeded the advisory levels (3 or 4 mg/kg*2 for formula feed for the cattle over 3 month-old, 1 mg/kg for formula feed for the other livestock).
Deoxynivalenol was analyzed for in 258 feed ingredient samples, and 187 samples were positive (73 %). Of 52 corn samples, 41 samples were positive (79 %). The highest values in each feed ingredient were as follows:
6.6 mg/kg in corn DDGS imported from the USA,
3.3 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten feed,
1.9 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten meal,
0.69 mg/kg in corn imported from the USA,
0.67 mg/kg in the domestic wheat bran,
0.64 mg/kg in the domestic hominy feed,
0.61 mg/kg in the domestic flaked barley,
0.43 mg/kg in the domestic barley bran,
0.33 mg/kg in the domestic wheat flour,
0.25 mg/kg in the domestic wheat,
0.20 mg/kg in soybean meal imported from the USA,
0.093 mg/kg in the domestic rice bran,
0.056 mg/kg in milo imported from Argentina,
0.053 mg/kg in the domestic rapeseed meal, and
0.041 mg/kg in cotton seeds imported from the USA.
*2Amended from 4 mg/kg to 3 mg/kg on 6 February 2020.
1.3 Zearalenone
Zearalenone was analyzed for in 93 formula feed samples, and 92 samples were positive (99 %). The highest value was 0.32 mg/kg in formula feed for growing piglets. No samples exceeded the advisory level (0.5 or 1 mg/kg*3 for formula feed for livestock).
Zearalenone was analyzed for in 225 feed ingredient samples, and 200 samples were positive (89 %). Of 52 corn samples, 50 samples were positive (96 %). The highest values in each feed ingredient were as follows:
1.1 mg/kg in corn DDGS imported from the USA,
1.1 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten meal and corn gluten meal imported from China,
0.37 mg/kg in the domestic corn gluten feed,
0.15 mg/kg in corn imported from the USA,
0.14 mg/kg in milo imported from Argentina,
0.056 mg/kg in the domestic soybean meal,
0.043 mg/kg in the domestic wheat bran,
0.019 mg/kg in the domestic defatted rice bran,
0.011 mg/kg in the domestic flaked barley and
0.004 mg/kg in the domestic wheat flour.
*3Amended from 1 mg/kg to 0.5 mg/kg on 6 February 2020.
1.4 Fumonisins (B1+B2+B3)
Fumonisins were analyzed for in three formula feed samples. The highest value was 1.4 mg/kg in formula feed for starting broilers. No samples exceeded the advisory level (4 mg/kg*4 for formula feed for livestock).
*4Newly set on 6 February 2020.
2 Heavy metals
FAMIC conducts the monitoring survey of heavy metals in formula feeds and feed ingredients. MAFF set feed safety standards as the advisory levels for heavy metals.
Cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic were analyzed for in 49 samples of formula feed*1 for livestock, 33 samples of formula feed for aquaculture, and 45∼46 feed ingredient samples (39 fish meals, 1 meat and bone meal, and 5∼6 hays) in the fiscal year 2019. These results were as follows.
2.1 Cadmium
Of cadmium, 29 out of 49 samples of formula feed for livestock were positive (59 %). The highest value was 0.17 mg/kg in formula feed for layers. No samples exceeded the advisory level (0.8 or 1 mg/kg*5 for formula feed for livestock). Of 33 samples of formula feed for aquaculture, 32 samples were positive (97 %). The highest value was 1.1 mg/kg.
Of 39 fish meal samples, 38 samples were positive (97 %). The highest value was 2.1 mg/kg. The value of one meat and bone meal sample was 0.07 mg/kg. Of six hay samples, three samples were positive (50 %). The highest value was 0.23 mg/kg. No samples exceeded the advisory level (3 mg/kg for fish meal, and meat and bone meal, 1 mg/kg for hay).
*5Amended from 1 mg/kg to 0.8 mg/kg on 6 February 2020.
2.2 Lead
Of lead, 7 out of 49 samples of formula feed for livestock were positive (14 %). The highest value was 2.1 mg/kg in formula feed for finishing pigs. No samples exceeded the advisory level (2 or 3 mg/kg*6 for formula feed for livestock). Of 33 samples of formula feed for aquaculture, 9 samples were positive (27 %). The highest value was 0.6 mg/kg.
Of 39 fish meal samples, 16 samples were positive (41 %). The highest value was 1.0 mg/kg. One meat and bone meal sample and five hay samples were negative. No samples exceeded the advisory level (7 mg/kg for fish meal, and meat and bone meal, 3 mg/kg for hay).
*6Amended from 3 mg/kg to 2 mg/kg on 6 February 2020.
2.3 Mercury
Of mercury, 12 out of 49 samples of formula feed for livestock were positive (24 %). The highest value was 0.03 mg/kg in formula feed for layers. No samples exceeded the advisory level (0.2 or 0.4 mg/kg*7 for formula feed for livestock). Of 33 samples of formula feed for aquaculture, all samples were positive (100 %). The highest value was 0.29 mg/kg.
Of 39 fish meal samples, 38 samples were positive (97 %). The highest value was 0.94 mg/kg. The value of one meat and bone meal sample was 0.22 mg/kg. Of six hay samples, three samples were positive (50 %). The highest value was 0.04 mg/kg. No samples exceeded the advisory level (1 mg/kg for fish meal, and meat and bone meal, 0.4 mg/kg for hay).
*7Amended from 0.4 mg/kg to 0.2 mg/kg on 6 February 2020.
2.4 Arsenic
Of arsenic, 19 out of 49 samples of formula feed for livestock were positive (39 %). The highest value was 0.70 mg/kg in formula feed for starting chicks. No samples exceeded the advisory level (2 mg/kg for formula feed for livestock). Of 33 samples of formula feed for aquaculture, all samples were positive (100 %). The highest value was 4.4 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).
Of 39 fish meal samples, all samples were positive (100 %). The highest value was 12 mg/kg in the domestic fish meal. The value of one meat and bone meal sample is 0.07 mg/kg. Of five hay samples, one sample was positive (20 %). The value was 0.17 mg/kg. No samples exceeded the advisory level (15 mg/kg for fish meal, 7 mg/kg for meat and bone meal, 2 mg/kg for hay).
3 Agricultural chemicals
FAMIC conducts monitoring survey of agricultural chemicals in formula feeds and feed ingredients.
A total of 122 agricultural chemicals were analyzed for in 97 formula feed*1 samples in the fiscal year 2019. As a result, the following five agricultural chemicals were detected:
Chlorpyrifos was detected in one sample and the value was 170 µg/kg.
Cyhalothrin was detected in one sample and the value was 88 µg/kg.
Deltamethrin including tralomethrin were detected in one sample and the value was 200 µg/kg.
Malathion was detected in three samples and the highest value was 130 µg/kg.
Pirimiphos-methyl was detected in 19 samples and the highest value was 190 µg/kg.
A total of 122 agricultural chemicals were analyzed for in 284 feed ingredient samples in the fiscal year 2019. As a result, the following 14 agricultural chemicals were detected:
Atrazine was detected in one sample and the value was 24 µg/kg in sudangrass hay or straw imported from the USA.
Bifenthrin was detected in two samples and the highest value was 43 µg/kg in corn imported from Brazil.
Chlorpyrifos was detected in four samples. The highest value was 344 µg/kg in corn imported from Brazil. The value exceeded the maximum residue limit set out in the ministerial ordinance of MAFF (100 µg/kg for corn).
Chlorpyrifos-methyl was detected in five samples and the highest value was 50 µg/kg in the domestic wheat bran.
Deltamethrin and tralomethrin were detected in three samples and the highest value was 320 µg/kg in milo imported from Argentina.
Etofenprox was detected in one sample and the value was 91 µg/kg in sudangrass hay or straw imported from the USA.
Fenitrothion was detected in two samples and the highest value was 190 µg/kg in corn imported from Brazil.
Isoprothiolane was detected in two samples and the highest value was 26 µg/kg in the domestic rice bran.
Malathion was detected in eight samples and the highest value was 280 µg/kg in corn imported from the USA.
Pendimethalin was detected in one sample and the value was 120 µg/kg in timothy hay imported from the USA.
Permethrin was detected in two samples and the highest value was 270 µg/kg in the domestic corn gluten feed.
Pirimiphos-methyl was detected in 17 samples and the highest value was 560 µg/kg in corn imported from Brazil.
Procymidone was detected in one sample and the value was 72 µg/kg in the wheaten hay imported from Australia.
Propiconazole was detected in two samples and the highest value was 4000 µg/kg in perennial ryegrass hay or straw imported from the USA.
