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Project
Processing factors of pesticides in animal feed
Residues of pesticides can be found in animal feed ingredients and byproducts for which no legal limits are established in the current EU regulations. Insight into the effects of processing and mixing of feed ingredients on the pesticide residues is needed to establish processing factors and limits for these animal feed ingredients and byproducts.
Animal feed
When residues of pesticides are found in animal feed ingredients and by products for which no legal limit is established the legal limit of the original product, corrected with a processing factor, is applied. However, these processing factors merely apply to human food. Therefore insight in the effects of processing and mixing of feed ingredients on the pesticide residue levels is necessary. Feed processing factors contribute to preventing animals and humans from unnecessary exposure and reducing economic losses by the feed industry.
Project
In this project, samples of plant based feed ingredients will be collected before and after processing at pilot and industrial scales. Ingredients include mostly materials derived from oilseeds and grains. The pilot plant experiments will consist of spiking experiments after which the particular processing steps in the pilot plant will be followed. The industrial scale experiments consist of sample collection before and during processing in the industry. Variability between plants and batches for the same pesticide-feed ingredient process is included in the project.
Furthermore, modelling will enable to predict expected concentrations in feed ingredients and, possibly, animal derived products.
Results will provide a scientific basis on effects of processing on the concentrations of pesticide residue levels of plant-based feed ingredients and will provide a common basis for decision making by the industry and competent authorities about feed processing factors.