Maximum Permissible Levels

Maximum permitted levels of coccidiostats and histomonostats residues in feedingstuffs and their background: Coccidiostats are used preventively to prevent coccidiosis in chickens, turkeys and fattening rabbits via compound feedingstuffs. These additives are authorised for only a few species under certain feeding conditions.

For example, the production of different compound feedingstuffs on one production line may lead to carry-over of medicinal feedingstuffs with other feedingstuffs, despite the application of good manufacturing practice. Because of this technically unavoidable carry-over, Commission Directive 2009/8/EC of 10 February 2009 introduced maximum permitted levels for the carry-over of all authorised coccidiostats (see below).

The ALARA principle (="as low as reasonably achievable") was applied as a general principle for the determination of coccidiostat residues. Due to the different sensitivity of the individual animal species, the tolerance values for the carry over were set at 1% and 3% respectively of the maximum permitted level for the target species. In the Annex you will find the table with the maximum levels for the carry-over according to. DIRECTIVE 2009/8/EC:

Maximum Levels of Coccidiostats/Histomonostats Residues

Additive Feed Maximum value (mg/kg) at 12% humidity
Lasalocid sodium feed materials, compound feedingstuffs for dogs, calves, rabbits, equidae, farm poultry laying eggs, farm milk-producing animals 1,25*
Lasalocid sodium compound feedingstuffs for other animal species 3,75
Narasin Feed materials, compound feedingstuffs for turkeys, rabbits, equidae, poultry laying eggs 0,7*
Narasin compound feedingstuffs for other animal species 2,1
Salinomycin sodium feed materials, compound feedingstuffs for equidae, turkeys, poultry laying eggs 0,7*
Salinomycin sodium compound feedingstuffs for other animal species 2,1
Monensin sodium feed materials, compound feed for equidae, dogs, small ruminants, geese, cattle, dairy cattle, egg-laying poultry 1,25*
Monensin sodium compound feedingstuffs for other animal species 3,75
Semduramicin Sodium Animal feed materials 0,25*
Semduramicin sodium compound feedingstuffs for other animal species 0,75
Maduramicin Ammonium Alpha Feed materials, for equidae, rabbits, poultry laying eggs 0,05*
Maduramicin Ammonium Alpha compound feeds for other animal species 0,15
Robenidine hydrochloride Feed materials, compound feedingstuffs for poultry laying eggs 0,7*
Robenidine hydrochloride compound feeds for other animal species 2,1
Decoquinate Feed materials, compound feedingstuffs for poultry laying eggs 0,4*
Decoquinate compound feedingstuffs for other animal species 1,2
Halofuginone hydrobromide Feed materials, compound feedingstuffs for poultry laying eggs 0,03*
Halofuginone hydrobromide compound feedingstuffs for other animal species 0,09
Nicarbazin Feed materials, compound feedingstuffs for equidae, poultry laying eggs 0,5*
Nicarbazin compound feedingstuffs for other animal species 1,5
Diclazuril Animal feed materials 0,01*
Diclazuril compound feedingstuffs for other animal species 0,03

* The maximum content of the substance in the premixture corresponds to the content which does not lead to more than 50% of the fixed maximum content in the respective feed if the instructions for use of the premixture are followed.

In the AGES, feedstuffs are regularly tested for the presence of coccidiostats/histomonostats at the Institute of Animal Nutrition and Feed.

For further information, please contact

On the AGES homepage you will find further information about coccidiosis and the carry-over of coccidiostats/histomonstats to their residues in food.

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