China launches feed safety campaign

China has launched the 2010 feed quality and safety campaign, which will focus on strengthening standardised management of producers and the illegal use of additives in animal husbandry.

 

Efforts will be made to promote good practices, foster law enforcement and crack down on the use of prohibited chemicals, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

 

The ministry will also work on improving the competence of professionals in this field, and enhancing the quality and safety of livestock products.

 

Various factors including the melamine disaster, impact of the global financial crisis and the challenge to stabilise animal husbandry production led administrative departments on feed at all levels to implement the special campaign on feed safety.

 

Qualification rate of feed products stood at 90.9%, up by 2.3% on-year and 99.3% for specific tests on melamine, up by 3.3% on-year. The detected rate of clenbuterol hydrochloride in feed has been zero for five consecutive years, and less than 0.05% in the livestock sector. Feed output reached over 140 million tonnes in 2009.