Is your drinking water disinfectant future-proof?
Tightening EU rules on biocides are reshaping the way farmers disinfect drinking water systems. With new BPR registrations in place, only fully approved products can be safely and legally used in animal production.
Regulations for the use of biocides are becoming increasingly strict worldwide. Biocidal product registrations in Europe are in the middle of a process of structural change. Whereas previously, each country had an individual registration and assessment body, the EU has recently switched to a new and strict registration system that is harmonised throughout the European Union, led by ECHA, also known as BPR (European Biocidal Products Regulation). Intra Hydrocare is the first product to be fully registered as a drinking water disinfectant for animals.
Unique peroxide product
The BPR registration sets strict requirements for safety, toxicology, ecotoxicology and efficacy. Getting this registration is a guarantee that the product is extremely safe, but also effective in its use. In the BPR, several product types (PT-groups) can be registered.
This product is registered for use in:
- PT02 (private use and public health)
- PT03 (veterinary use)
- PT04 (food and feed)
- PT05 (drinking water for animals)
In practice, a dosage of 50 ppm (50 ml per 1,000 litres of water) is recommended to be used in populated houses. With its PT05 registration, it is approved to be used with an increased dosage up to 250 ppm. This is unique, as no other BPR-registered hydrogen peroxide product can be dosed at this amount in the drinking water, which means it’s safe for poultry to consume this amount of product in the drinking water.
Biofilm builds up in the system during the cycle. It is important to clean and disinfect the drinking system not only when the house is empty, but also when it is populated. The build-up of biofilm in water systems is demonstrated in independent scientific publications. This study also shows that adding chlorine in low, medium or high concentrations does not prevent this.
Biofilm in the drinking system is a major risk factor for animal health. When vaccines, feed supplements and antibiotics are dosed through the drinking water, they can be captured by the biofilm, leading to underdosed animals. These products are, in turn, a substrate for more biofilm growth. When a biofilm is matured, microorganisms that are part of the biofilm network will be spread through the drinking water.
If a product is not listed in the EU-BPR database by ECHA, it is simply no longer approved to be used. It is up to farmers to monitor this closely, as using unregistered products can lead to unpleasant consequences.
Keeping the water system clean
Standard hydrogen peroxide is not able to prevent biofilm formation, as it will react too quickly with the contamination in the first part of the system. The danger zone is the last part of the system, further in the poultry house, where the water temperature is higher and the water velocity is lower.
Intra Hydrocare is an ultra-stabilised pharma-grade hydrogen peroxide that keeps the entire system free of biofilm, also when animals are present. It is the liability and responsibility of the farmer/integrator to check whether a biocide complies with the European Biosafety Act to avoid market recalls.
