A new regulation adopted by the European Commission has dramatically reduced the amount of copper allowed in pig feed and adjusted limits for the mineral for other species.Feed for piglets up to four weeks after weaning can now contain a maximum of 150mg of copper per kg of complete feed at 12% moisture, and the new limit is 100mg/kg for piglets between five and eight weeks after weaning. This was 175mg/kg up until now.
A new regulation adopted by the European Commission has dramatically reduced the amount of copper allowed in pig feed and adjusted limits for the mineral for other species.
Feed for piglets up to four weeks after weaning can now contain a maximum of 150mg of copper per kg of complete feed at 12% moisture, and the new limit is 100mg/kg for piglets between five and eight weeks after weaning. This was 175mg/kg up until now.
The new limits for adult cattle is 30mg/kg (down from 35mg/kg).
The limit for goats has increased from 25mg/kg to 35mg/kg.
The maximum copper content remains unchanged for other animals. This includes that for calves before the start of rumination and for sheep, at 15mg/kg.
The regulation refers to a scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in 2016, which recommended cutting copper levels in feed to reduce the release of the mineral in the environment through manure.
Antimicrobial resistance
The panel of experts explained that "reducing copper in feed could help to reduce antimicrobial resistance in pigs and in the environment". This is because research on drug-resistant diseases has raised potential "genetic proximity" between the genes providing bugs with resistance to both antibiotics and copper.
While the EFSA recommended dropping the maximum level of copper in piglet feed to 25mg/kg, the new regulation states that this could not be done in one step because of risks to animal health.
"With the objective of a further reduction when the maximum contents are next reviewed to meet the maximum of 25mg/kg for piglets directly after weaning, feed business operators and research institutes should be encouraged to collect new scientific data about the impacts of the levels recommended by the authority on the health and welfare status of piglets and to promptly explore the use and effectiveness of alternatives to supplementation with copper," the European Commission noted in the regulation.
The new rules comes into force on 13 August and feed manufacturers have one year to comply with the new copper limits.
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