General News of Monday, 16 June 1997

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FAO Institutes Measures For Good Animal Feeding

Accra, - 16 June A Code of Practice for Good Animal Feeding has been drafted to check health and food-trade problems such as humans falling ill after eating meat and animal products contaminated by animal feed. A statement issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Accra today, said the code applies to manufacturing and use of all feeds, other than those consumed while grazing free range. It specifies means to assure controls of pathogenic bacterium, mycotoxins (toxins produced by mould in feed), veterinary drug residues, pesticide residues and heavy metals in feed. The objective of the code is to encourage adherence to good manufacturing practice during procurement, handling, storage, processing and distribution of feed for good food-producing animals. It also encourages good feeding practices on the farm. The statement said if the practice is followed, it will address the possible linkage between the 'mad cow disease' and the 'Creuzfeld-Jakob Disease'. ''Recent problems include an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly referred to as the mad cow disease, in cattle in several European countries and the possible link of BSE to a new variant of Creuzfeld-Jakob Disease, a rare disease in humans.''