Aflatoxin protocol
NOTE: Additional measures are currently in place for Romanian maize. See Alert dated January 27, 2023.
As a precaution, SecureFeed participants are currently not allowed to distribute maize from Romania to dairy cattle or to process it into dairy cattle feed. In addition, the processing of Romanian maize into compound feed or its direct supply to all other target animals is only allowed on a positive release basis. This precautionary measure is effective immediately and until further notice.
Aflatoxin B1 is a carcinogenic fungal toxin formed by various Aspergillus fungi. Maize and maize (by-)products are highly susceptible to Aflatoxin contamination. The weather conditions during the growing and harvesting period in the countries of origin greatly influence whether or not Aflatoxin contamination occurs. As a result, the level of contamination in a country or region of origin varies from year to year.
When dairy cattle consume feed contaminated with Aflatoxin B1, the Aflatoxin B1 can be converted to Aflatoxin M1 which ends up in the milk. Aflatoxin M1 is harmful to human health.
For this reason, SecureFeed has categorized maize and maize by-products based on their country of origin into three risk groups: Low-risk, Medium-risk, and High-risk countries.
The SecureFeed aflatoxin protocol describes requirements for each of these three risk groups regarding frequency of analysis, sampling, analytical methods, verification, production and purchase of maize and maize by-products. These requirements are necessary to manage aflatoxin risks in maize and its by-products used in dairy cattle feed.
| Document number | Document content |
|---|---|
| I-08-03c | Aflatoxin protocol maize and maize by-products |
| D-25 | Risk classification countries Aflatoxin B1 in maize and maize (by)products |
| I-08-03c-1 | Instruction on revision of country classification in D-25 |
| GMP+(2020) TS 1.7 ‘Monitoring’ chapter 2 | Purchase and processing of maize and maize by-products intended for target animals other than dairy cattle. |
The downloadable documents below make up the SecureFeed aflatoxin protocol.
Downloads
- I-08-03c Aflatoxine protocol maïs en bijproducten van maïsDownload
- I-08-03c Aflatoxin protocol for maize and maize by-productsDownload
- D-25 Risico-indeling landen Aflatoxine B1 in maïs en maïs(bij-)productenDownload
- D-25 Risk Classification countries Aflatoxin B1 in maize and maize(by-)productsDownload
- I-08-03c-1 Instructie herziening landen-indeling in D-25Download
- I-08-03c-1 Instruction for revision of country classification in D-25Download
- D-35 Overzicht verplichte aanvullende monitoring AflatoxineDownload
- D-35 Overview Mandatory Additional Monitoring Aflatoxin in maize and maize by productsDownload