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EU copper reduction plans refined


The reduction of copper levels for pigs to 25 mg/kg for all age groups is off the table in the European Union. The proposal, suggested in an FEEDAP Panel Opinion in 2016, will be replaced with different levels. In doing so, the European Commission followed an alternative plan by FEFAC feed industry experts. What does that entail?


BY EMMY KOELEMAN, EDITOR, ALL ABOUT FEED C


opper is an essential trace element for all forms of life and performs several biological functions. How- ever, high levels of copper (higher than the nutri- tional needs) used to be used in the past for their


positive impact to help animals to cope with pathogens, in particular for young animals (piglets). These high levels of copper are nevertheless excreted by the animals and may then pose a threat for the environment. This is why in 2016, EFSA’s Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) published an opin- ion to reduce the current total copper levels of 170 mg/kg complete feed until 12 weeks of age down to 25 mg per kg of feed regardless of age.


Advice based on medicated feed trials However, these proposed reduction levels were based on American trials where the piglets no matter which test groups with different copper levels all received medicated


feed (220 mg tetracycline) and results showed that lowering the copper to 25 mg there was no impact on performance or growth nor faecal scores. However, it is a known fact that when copper levels are dra- matically reduced, then the need to use antibiotics increases, due to for example gut health problems that shows clearly in abnormal faecal consistency scores and therefore is very clear. So, the fact that these trials formed a basis where the pigs were medicated is neither a realistic nor a valid scenario for the feed industry or farmers. And more antibiotics as a result of reduced copper levels is not what we want right? “Absolutely not,” says FEFAC Animal Nutrition Committee expert Erik Dam Jensen. “On a global level, antimicrobial re- duction is high on the agenda and the livestock sector, in particular in the EU, is required to implement animal health management strategy to reduce the need for antibiotics, so proposing changes in animal nutrition that will clearly lead to an increase in antibiotic use is not what we want. The end consumers, the EU and the livestock sector want the oppo- site. The US trials with the medicated feed can simply not be considered a valid reference and is totally out of context and this was also noted by the industry and farmers and later the EU Commission.”


Healthy reduction proposed The invalid base for the FEEDAP Panel opinion from two years ago has made FEFAC, the European Feed Manufacturers’ Fed- eration, look critically on the proposed changes and has since then worked out a better, scientific founded and more realis- tic plan that will prevent that the pig sector having to use


Table 1 – The old and new situation for different age groups in growing pigs. All figures in total mg/kg complete feed.


Current EU levels *)


Piglets: suckling and weaned up to 4 weeks after weaning


Piglets from 5th week after weaning up to 8 weeks after weaning Other pigs


170 *)


170 *) 25


*) Current legislation states: piglets up to 12 weeks 30 ▶ PIG PROGRESS | Volume 34, No. 6, 2018


FEEDAP Panel proposal 2016


25


25 25


FEFAC proposal 2017/2018


170


110 25


EU Commission New legislation proposal 2018


150


100 25


150


100 25


entering into force shortly


PHOTO: HENK RISWICK


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