#32026H1243EU monitoring of ergot alkaloids in animal feed
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
The recommendation asks EU Member States to monitor ergot alkaloids in animal feed, especially cereals, cereal products, forage, sorghum and compound feed. These substances can occur naturally from ergot fungi and may pose health risks for cattle and pigs. Feed producers, laboratories and national food and feed safety authorities are the main groups affected. The practical task is to collect better testing data, including details such as moisture content, feed type, target animals and the relationship between visible ergot bodies and alkaloid levels.
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Key Changes
- Recommends EU-wide monitoring of ergot alkaloids in relevant animal feed materials
- Focuses data collection on feed types where more evidence is needed, including forage and sorghum
- Calls for sensitive analytical methods and detailed sample information to improve risk assessment
Obligations
What this law requires
Monitor the presence of ergot alkaloids in feed commodities, including cereals and cereal products intended for animal feeding, pasture or forage grasses, sorghum, and compound feed.
Use analytical methods with sufficient sensitivity when testing feed samples for ergot alkaloids.
Collect analytical data on both ergot sclerotia presence and ergot alkaloid content in feed commodities to assess the relationship between visible ergot bodies and alkaloid levels.
Include monitoring data relevant to animal health risks in bovines and pigs, including piglets, pigs for fattening, and sows.
When collecting feed monitoring data, record contextual sample information such as moisture content, feed type, and target animal species where available.