The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has temporarily shut down 46 livestock farms after mouse poison was found in the liver of a calf from one of these farms. These include cattle, pigs and sheep destined for slaughter.
With the ban, no animals may be disposed of. This also applies to animal (by)products, such as manure and milk derived from these animals
The drug in question is Racumin Foam, intended for the control of mice, whose active ingredient is Coumatetralyl. Its use is permitted, but only under strict legal conditions of use. An investigation by the NVWA found that the pest control company used by the pest controller did not follow the rules or did not follow them sufficiently. The animals were exposed to the pest-control agent, blocking the livestock farm.
As the pest-control company also carried out work at 45 other livestock farmers, their operations have also been shut down as a precautionary measure. Investigations are underway to determine when, how and where the pest control product was applied to these livestock farmers. If the situation warrants, further control samples of animals will be taken.
If the drug is not found in the animals, the farms will be released again. Five of the 46 farms are now allowed to deliver milk again, says the NVWA. How long it will take for all farms to reopen is impossible to say. The NVWA wants to complete it as soon as possible.
With the precautionary shutdown of the 46 farms and the subsequent investigation, the NVWA wants to prevent animal (by) products containing the substance Coumatetralyl from entering the consumption chain. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the substance is "moderately toxic". This means that when ingested in large quantities, it can be harmful to health.
Only after investigations show that no pest control agent has been found in the animals will the discharge ban be lifted. Meanwhile, milk discharge has been released at five farms because inspections show that pest control has not taken place near the dairy cattle.
The NVWA takes tens of thousands of samples from animals in slaughterhouses every year, on a random basis. This is part of the National Plan Residues. During a regular investigation, traces of a pesticide were found in the liver of a calf. This prompted the NVWA for further investigation and the measures as now taken.
Source: NVWA
