Quality control of animal feed necessary

Kuala Lumpur, Jun 19, 2009: "The Animal Feed Act 2008 (Rang Undang Undang Makanan Haiwan 2008) is necessary now for quality control of animal feed, animal feed additives, antibiotics, hormones and chemicals, which have been used indiscriminately and which could endanger human health," said Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui, Member of Parliament for Tawau.

Dr Chua, who is also vice president of SAPP, added that those farmers who are solely interested in reaping a bigger profit have used the above without considering the toxic effects on human health. No doubt, it is true that these act as catalysts of growth that also reduce infection of diseases, but there are bad side effects too.

"The ministry should continue to provide awareness programs and educational information on the danger on abuse of antibiotics, drugs, chemicals and feed additives in animal food production both to the farmers and the consumers. I would like to compliment the good work by the health ministry on the preventive measures and reporting of A H1N1 flu highlighted to the public everyday so that the public can play their roles in combating the A H1n1 flu with the ministry.

"It was highlighted a few years ago on the abuse of beta-agonist, which is a drug for treating asthma, as an additive for growth promotion, feed efficiency, weight gain in animal food production. The prolonged overdose consumption can cause nerve diseases, increased heartbeats, respiratory effects, headache, muscle cramps etc. Since the beta-agonist can be purchased at any pharmacy, how is the ministry going to control and monitor the usage as the farmers are free to buy from the pharmacy.

"The use of antibiotics must be monitored closely. The use of antibiotics such as Nitrofuran in the animal feed industry aims to control infection by bacteria apart from accelerating animal growth especially for chicken. However, the antibiotics could cause cancer and deterioration of muscles in humans.

"Prior to 2005, farmers also used fluoroquinolones on chicken flocks for prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases. As a result of indiscriminate consumption, the chicken developed a resistance to bacteria Campylobacter, which was passed on to humans. Both kinds of bacteria were resistant to fluoroquinolones – a class of antibiotics of important use in human medicine causing unnecessary human health risk. How is the ministry going to monitor the usage of drugs and antibiotics in animal food production and its impact on health hazard?

"Last year, a report revealed the elevated levels of Dioxin found in cows and pigs in Ireland originating from the contaminated animal feeds. Excess levels can lead to cancer. What preventive measures are the ministry taking to ensure the imported feeds are not contaminated?3

"The prawn farmers have encountered many types of diseases. Are these connected with animal feed, or are they due to other factors that may endanger human health? How could this Act help and benefit the prawn farmers in combating the diseases and enhancing their productivity?

"Has the ministry any plan to work closely with other countries to monitor and information sharing in animal food production and its impact on human health.

"Since this act is only applicable to peninsular Malaysia and Federal Territory Labuan, does this mean that the import and sale of feeds are licensed by the states of Sabah and Sarawak? Is the monitoring, enforcement and surveilence also under the jurisdiction of the states? How is the ministry going to provide assurance to the people of Sabah and Sarawak in the security in animal food production security and human health? Has the ministry any plan to extend this act to Sabah and Sarawak?" asked Chua.