November 15, 2012

In October 2011, Pas Reform signed an exclusive agreement with Watter, an award-winning Dutch company that has pioneered a clean, efficient alternative to chemical preparations, including formaldehyde.

One of the key debates to emerge in recent years has surrounded the use of formaldehyde and other chemical preparations, to meet increasingly stringent regulations surrounding health and hygiene in the commercial hatchery. 

There is evidence that the use of formaldehyde, originally and accidentally discovered in 1859, represents a risk both to human health and to chick welfare. Yet despite mounting international pressure to eradicate its use in the hatchery, formaldehyde persists as a solution for disinfection largely for the lack of a suitable alternative.

Watter's 'Nontox' Electrical Chemical Activation (ECA) disinfection technology harnesses the power of naturally occurring oxidants using water, salt and electricity to produce a powerful, safe and highly sustainable non-toxic disinfectant that neutralises bacteria, fungi and viruses.

The disinfecting action is the effect of combining free radicals with active chlorine compounds, such as HClO and ClO, which are produced when electricity is passed through the brine solution created by adding the salt tablets to the water.

Independent tests carried out by Dutch Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), have found Watter's ECA system to be effective in six key EN standards for the disinfection of Food, Hands, Medical Instruments, Rooms, Surfaces and Water Sources.

In simple terms, Watter's patented Nontox unit produces a safe, powerful disinfecting solution by adding salt and electricity to water. The result can be described as 'electrolysed oxidising water' and with a Nontox unit installed, the hatchery can continue to supply as much of this solution as it needs, for the routine disinfection of facilities and equipment - and for fogging to sanitise hatching eggs prior to setting. The disinfectant leaves no residues on surfaces, and no build-up of resistance has been encountered in bacteria. With certification for on-farm use that confirms both claims and regulatory compliance for Nontox, leading Dutch hatchery Probroed & Sloot was the first commercial operation to test Watter's system in a live hatchery situation.

And by delivering a sustainable source, on site, the Nontox system provides a convincing return, not only by reducing the costs associated with frequently repeated orders for chemicals and disinfectant over time, but also for its associated benefits to the welfare and performance of the chicks and the health of hatchery personnel. Nontox represents an exciting and genuine route to abolishing the use of formaldehyde in hatcheries, while respecting and protecting the welfare of people and chicks. The Watter system represents another important step in creating safer, cleaner hatchery environments.