Reducing residues

What have the National Farmers’ Union, British Poultry Council, Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and the Agency got in common? We're all determined to lower the incidence and levels of nicarbazin residues in chicken, through taking part in a joint initiative facilitated by the FSA.

Nicarbazin is a feed additive used to help control poultry diseases, such as coccidiosis.  It is found occasionally in chicken, particularly chicken liver.

Although the current residue levels are not a significant risk to consumers, we recognise that people expect all veterinary medicine residue levels to be kept to a minimum.  Industry also accepts that consumers require assurances that the chicken they eat contains the lowest possible residues of feed additives.

The initiative covers poultry farmers whose birds are sampled under the National Surveillance Scheme for veterinary residues carried out by the VMD.  Since 1 February 2007, farmers sampled under this scheme are being sent a form to fill in asking for information about the feed management on farms and what happened when the birds were raised.

We hope this information will enable us to identify best practice for nicarbazin use and feed management, which can then be shared across the whole UK poultry industry and lead to fewer and lower nicarbazin residues being found.

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