The use of almost all veterinary drugs as feed additives is now being banned by European legislation (Directive 70/524/EEC and its amendments). To enforce this ban, reliable testing methods are needed. To tackle the lack of such tools, the project SimbagFeed was set up in the the 5th Community Framework Programme for Research.
Its aim was to develop reliable methods for screening, post-screening and confirmation. Target analytes were the banned growth promoters and antibiotics. IRMM was responsible for organising and co-ordinating validation studies for the methods developed, and prepared a wide range of blank and spiked feed materials. Pure drug substances were also provided for the studies.
In addition IRMM is working on the development of alternative methods for detection of authorised and banned coccidiostats linked to activities of the Community Reference Laboratory for Feed Additives Authorisation. In particular IRMM is:
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developing two methods for the analysis of some macrolides (tylosin, spiramycin, kitasamycin, roxithromycin and josamycin) in feed
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conducting a feasibility study on the application of capillary electrophoresis to the determination of banned antibiotics in feed;
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developing of a multi-compound method for the detection of various coccidiostats.