Egyptian Farms Use Banned Antibiotics before Supplying Poultry to the Market
Arafa Abu Al-Majd
Mohammad Humaid
There are hundreds of poultry farms in the village of Al-Ayat on the outskirts of Giza Governorate to the south of the Egyptian capital, Cairo. Mahmoud Eid is a farm worker who is preparing to add the antibiotic, Tylosin to the watering trough of the chicken hatchery in one of these farms. Eid said, “We use a lot of antibiotics in the process of raising poultry to protect them from disease and cold weather because of the spread of viruses and infectious illnesses that can destroy an entire stock.”
Mr Eid uses these antibiotics immediately prior to selling his chickens to keep them “alert” as he put it. He told us that none of the inspectors of the Ministry of Agriculture had visited him during the twelve years he had spent on the farm. He is not aware that Tylosin belongs to a group of sixteen antibiotics banned from use in poultry in 2016 by the General Organization for Veterinary Services. The antibiotics are dangerous to human health due to the traces that remain in the chicken meat.
According to data from the Poultry Resources Division of the Egyptian Chamber of Commerce, there is no statistical data covering all poultry farms as a large number of these are not licensed. Their number is estimated to be between forty-seven and fifty thousand chicken farms, and the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture is unable to provide oversight or to inspect them all. The Ministry is also incapable of enforcing that workers follow Egyptian specifications in Regulation No. 2377/ 90 issued in 2010. This regulation sets the acceptable level of traces of veterinary drugs in foods of animal origins.
On a research tour in the governorates of Giza, Dakahlia and Al-Sharqia, we documented the use of antibiotics by poultry farmers in violation of biosafety regulations. The biosafety period is the time needed for antibiotic traces to leave the body of chickens. It is also known as the “withdrawal period,” which could be anything between seven to twenty-eight days after using the antibiotics.
We conducted two laboratory analyses that showed traces of Ceftriaxone and Gentamicin. Both of these antibiotics have been banned in Egypt since 2018.
Antibiotics
These are chemical compounds produced in whole or in part from germs, usually from fungi and bacteria. In their low concentration, they have a special ability to kill or stop the growth of many germs. They are, however, chemical toxins whose presence in foods is alarming.
Wholesale Antibiotics
We documented the use of banned antibiotics in two farms in Al-Sharqia Governorate, 111 kilometers east of Cairo, where the age of chickens ranged between 24 and 42 days. These antibiotics are: “Erythromycin, Organocide, Oxytetracycline, Samox, Eucicox, Telovar, Linco-Spectin, Cemoved and Cefotaxime. These were either injected or placed into the feeding troughs. In a letter sent to the Veterinary Medicine Directorate in Al-Sharqia in April 2016, the General Organization for Veterinary Services listed 16 types of banned antibiotics, including the previously mentioned ones.
According to Mohammad Abdel-Fattah, a veterinarian and farm supervisor, some poultry farmers in Egypt use antibiotics because chicks get infected in the coop or hatchery itself, or through airborne viruses. He explained that the correct way to calculate the concentration of the antibiotic to be injected into a chicken depends on its weight, and not on the amount of water it drinks, as most poultry farmers do.
الدكتور محمد عبد الفتاح
Antibiotics banned in Egypt
Florfenicol
Banned on
2 May 2013
gentamicin
Banned on
2 May 2013
Bottles over 50ml or 10% for export only
tylosin &
colistin
Banned on
2 May 2013
rifamyein
Banned on
28 November 2011
enrofloxaein
Banned on
28 November 2011
ciprofloxaein
Banned on
7 March 2013
oxytetra
cycline
Banned on
28 February 2013
spiramyein
Banned on
13 June 2013
Only 100ml are allowed in pigs in wsp form, allowed to inject non-dairy cows and pigs, used for cats and dogs as tablets, used as oral solution for pigs only.
Banned on
26 September 2013
In addition to the warning not to use veterinary products containing this substance in the form of injections for newly born domestic animals, companies are granted 6 months from the date of the committee to implement this decision due to the absence of similar products in the veterinary field.
benzyl
alcohol
Banned on
7 March 2013
danofloxaein
w.s.p
Banned on
3 September 2015
colistin&
flumequine
Banned on
3 July 2015
biecozamycin
Banned on
19 February 2015
kitasamycin
Banned on
29 January 2015
norfloxacin
Banned on
13 June 2013
spectinomycin
&cindamyein
Banned on
26 September 2013
ceftazidime
Antibiotics banned in Egypt
Florfenicol
Banned on
2 May 2013
gentamicin
Banned on
2 May 2013
Bottles over 50ml or 10% for export only
tylosin &
colistin
Banned on
2 May 2013
rifamyein
Banned on
28 November 2011
enrofloxaein
Banned on
28 November 2011
ciprofloxaein
Banned on
7 March 2013
oxytetra
cycline
Banned on
28 February 2013
spiramyein
Banned on
13 June 2013
Only 100ml are allowed in pigs in wsp form, allowed to inject non-dairy cows and pigs, used for cats and dogs as tablets, used as oral solution for pigs only.
Banned on
26 September 2013
In addition to the warning not to use veterinary products containing this substance in the form of injections for newly born domestic animals, companies are granted 6 months from the date of the committee to implement this decision due to the absence of similar products in the veterinary field.
benzyl
alcohol
Banned on
7 March 2013
danofloxaein
w.s.p
Banned on
3 September 2015
colistin&
flumequine
Banned on
3 July 2015
biecozamycin
Banned on
19 February 2015
kitasamycin
Banned on
29 January 2015
norfloxacin
Banned on
13 June 2013
spectinomycin
&cindamyein
Banned on
26 September 2013
لعدد وجود مستحضرات مثيلة في المجال البيطري
ceftazidime
The process of protecting chickens against diseases from the age of one day to the point of sale
The age of chickens in days
Treatment drugs
From 1 to 4 days old
Pan-Fluor / Ciprofloxacin: "2 cm / liter of water for 12 hours + vitamin A." D3e “1 cm / liter of water for 12 hours
From 5 to 8 days
Mineral salts 1 cm / liter of water for 12 hours + vitamin "B-K - choline" 1 cm / liter of water for 12 hours
From 9 to 12 days
Antidote or antitoxin + "Ranex" tonic for the liver and kidneys for 12 hours
Day 13
Diclavat "1 cm / liter of water for 24 hours."
From 14 to 17 days
Ampicillin: 1 gram / liter of water for 12 hours + vinegar 1 cm / liter of water for 12 hours
From 18 to 20 days
Immunity booster and minerals
From 21 to 30 days
Immunity booster and minerals
From 31 to 35 days
Vitamins and minerals + antitoxins in water
Wholesale Violations
The second investigative trip was in the Governorate of Dakahlia. There, poultry farms are erected in close proximity to residential clusters, in violation of Regulation No. (434) of 2017, issued by the Minister of Housing. This regulation sets the general requirements that farms should be a kilometer away from urban clusters.
Famers on three farms we visited used banned antibiotics without even factoring in veterinary guidance that calls for compliance with biosafety period “allowing the antibiotic to leave the animals system”.
The antibiotics used include Erythromycin, Ciprofloxacin, Oxytetracycline, Samox, Tylosin, Amoxicillin, Ceftriaxone, Sulfonamide, Gentamicin, Doxycycline and Penicillin.
Guidelines for establishing poultry farms:
As mentioned above, farms should be located one kilometer away from any urban clusters, also they should be on the southern side or to the eastern side of any urban cluster of Upper Egypt, running in the opposite direction of urban expansion. Their location should be far from industrial areas or other sources of environmental pollutants in order to maintain an adequate preventive distance between the farm and sources of pollution. This would comply with the “Environmental Impact assessment’s Principles and procedures manual” issued by the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency. Rooms should be designated and equipped for a resident veterinarian and for an agricultural engineer in a location that makes supervising the farm easy.
In the outskirts of Giza Governorate, south of Cairo, we documented the use of antibiotics in in two farms for poultry aged 10,29, and 34 days. The breeding cycles in poultry extends usually to 30 or 42 days.
Yusri Abdullah, a poultry farmer claims that his use of antibiotics is due to the poor chicken breed available in the market, that are vulnerable (to illness and disease) and register a high level of mortality during the production cycle.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission, (an international food standards agency working in conjunction with WHO and FAO) known simply as “Codex”, had classified the use of 79 different antibiotics: 14 of these were banned from use in poultry farming outright, 24 were cleared for use even if low traces levels remained (when chickens reach the consumers), while 41 types were cleared for use as long as no traces are left in the chicken prior to their sale in the markets).
The antibiotics allowed in certain percentages in some edible animals
Accreditation year
The names of the antibiotics
Allowed Residue Percentage
1993
Albendazole
5000 mcg/kg
1995
Flubendazole
500:200 mcg/kg
1997
Doxycycline
800:200 mcg/kg
Levamisole
800:200 mcg/kg
1999
Benzylpenicillin / Procaine benzylpenicillin
50 mcg/kg
septinomycin
5000:500 mcg/kg
Nicarbazin
200 mcg/kg
Neomycin
10000:500 mcg/kg
Diclazuril
3000:500 mcg/kg
2011
Tilmicosin
2400:150 mcg/kg
2017
Sodium lazalocide
1200:400 mcg/kg
2001
Dihydrostreptomycin / Streptomycin
1000:600 mcg/kg
Danofloxacin
200:100 mcg/kg
Saraflocacin
80:20 mcg/kg
2003
Chlortetracycline /oxytetracycline
1200:600mcg/kg
Deltamethrin
500:30 mcg/kg
Lincomycin
500:100 mcg/kg
2005
Flumequine
3000:500 mcg/kg
2008
Erythromycin
100:50 mcg/kg
Colistin
300:150 mcg/kg
2009
tylosin
300:100mcg/kg
avilamycin
300:200 mcg/kg
Monensin
100:10mcg/kg
Narasin
50:15 mcg/kg
The antibiotics that are categorically banned
The Organization recommends that it should not be used due to the high risk
Ipronidazole
Dimitridazole
Gentian violet
Ronidazole
Furazolidone
Nitrofural
Karbados
Chloramphenicol
Chlorpromazine
Closantel
Green Malachite
stabilizat
Metronidazole
Olacondox
The Organization recommends that it should not be used due to the high risk
Ipronidazole
Dimetridazole
Gentian violet
Ronidazole
Furazolidone
Nitrofural
Karbados
Chloramphenicol
Chlorpromazine
closantel
Green Malachite
stabilizat
ميتRonidazole
أولاكوندوكس
The World Health Organization recommends that it should not be used due to the high risk
Ipronidazole
Dimitridazole
Gentian Violet
Ronidazole
Furazolidone
Nitrofural
Karbados
Chloramphenicol
Chlorpromazine
closantel
Green Malachite
stabilizat
ميتRonidazole
أولاكوندوكس
The names of the antibiotics of which no traces should be allowed to remain in the body tissue of chickens.
Accreditation year
The names of the antibiotics
1995
Izometamidijum
17 beta-estradiol
Trenbolone acetate
Testosterone
Tiabendazole
Sulfadimidine
Zeranol
1997
Doramectin
Demenazine
moxidetine
1999
Azapirone
Fantantel / Fenbendazole
Ceftiofur
FlaOazurne
2001
Gentamicin
2003
Abamectin
Ebrinomystin
Ivermectin
Somatropin Bursin
Cyfluthrin
silenbutrol
FOXIME
Carazolol
2005
imidocarb
Progesterone
Dexylanil
Cyhalothrin
1995
Izometamidijum
17 beta-estradiol
Trenbolone acetate
Testosterone
2006
terramycin
trichlorfon (metrifonate)
cypermethrin and vasepermethrin
2009
Tinidazole
Dexamethasone
Melingstrol acetate
2012
Amoxicillin
Ractopamine hydrochloride
2015
Darkwantel
Emamectin benzoate
Moneypentel
2017
flubenzuron
2018
Lufenuron
Ampicillin
Analysis and Documentation
We analyzed two random samples of poultry, the first one came from a farm in Ghamr city in the Dakahlia Governorate, and the second one was collected from a farm south of Giza Governorate.
The first hen was between 29 to 35 days old, which is the average age at which poultry is sold. That sample showed traces of Ceftriaxone. According to the report produced by the key laboratory for veterinary control of poultry production at the Animal Health Research Institute of the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, the analysis revealed residue of the antibiotic in the animal’s liver.
The laboratory analysis for the second sample showed residues of the prohibited drug, Gentamicin, at a concentration of 211.75 milligrams. This is in violation of the directive of the General Organization for Veterinary Services that has prohibited the use of 16 drugs, including Gentamicin, which could stay in the chicken’s body for a period of more than 40 days. Every antibiotic has a limited traces life in the chicken’s meat, as per data set by the Animal Health Research Institute, and this is usually found in the medicine’s information leaflet.
MedlinePlus, a service affiliated to the National Library of Medicine in the United States of America, warns of side effects caused by Ceftriaxone. These include skin rashes, bloating, fever, difficulty in urinating, bloody stools, and difficulty swallowing or breathing.
A study conducted by the Department of Microbiology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Cairo University documents antibiotic resistance in 17 poultry farms in different parts of Egypt. The 2013 study lists the antibiotics for which 100% resistance has been detected and these are: Gentamicin, Streptomycin, Oxolinic acid, Lincomycin, Erythromycin and Spiramycin.
Additionally, the study documented resistance to 15 other antibiotics. Those are Rifampicin (34% resistance), Chloramphenicol (46%), Spectinomycin (50%), Tylosin Fosfomycin (52%), Ciprofloxacin (58%), Norfloxacin (67%), Oxytetracycline ( 71%), Flomicin (78%), Enrofloxacin (82%), Neomycin (93%), Colistin (94%), Bifloxacin (94%), Doxycycline (98%), and Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole (98%).
A study, published in The International Journal of Food Characteristics, concludes that the use of antibiotics as a preventive treatment to ensure rapid growth can lead to the accumulation of toxic and harmful residues in the meat and eggs of chickens and that this affects the health of the consumer.
A Lack of Awareness and Qualifications
Dr. Mahmoud Mohammad Amr, founder of the National Center for Toxins and Chairman of the Toxicology Committee at the Academy of Scientific Research in Egypt, warns about the danger of any antibiotic traces left in the tissue of chicken or meat. He says, “Gentamicin, for example, causes problems in the nervous system, especially in the ear. Therefore, its residues should be zero.” Amr specifies seven days as the period by which the remnants of the antibiotic should be eliminated from the chicken’s body. This is called the “safety period,” and it means that the chicken should not be slaughtered until a week after it has been injected with the antibiotic.
Dr. Mustafa Bustami, professor of poultry diseases at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Cairo University and former dean of the faculty, says, “In Egypt there are no specific standards set for the amount of antibiotic residues in poultry meat. What ends up happening is reliance on the conscience of the veterinarian and the poultry farmer.”
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According to Mohammad Juma’a, Director of the Veterinary Department in Dakahlia, the biggest problem lies in “the use of drugs that are banned from circulation internationally but are still used in Egypt. Most prominent of these are Gentamicin, Fluorophenicol and Enrofloxacin.”
Juma’a adds that most poultry farmers are not qualified to carry out the breeding process. When an epidemic breaks out, they start using antibiotics to enable them to sell the chickens.
الدكتور محمد جمعة
Juma’a believes that all chicken distribution to the consumer should pass through the fully automated slaughterhouses where veterinary supervision applies. He calls for the enforcement of the law that stipulates the supervision of poultry farms by veterinarians. He believes there should be strict oversight to the use of antibiotics and that farms should comply with the time limits set for the antibiotic traces to leave the body of chickens or what is known as the “safe withdrawal” period (prior to selling or slaughtering the chicken and make them ready for human consumption).
Directives not respected
Regulation No. (70) of 2009 of the Ministry of Agriculture restricts the trade or slaughter of live birds and poultry to places specified by the Minister of Agriculture after meeting the necessary conditions. This act also prohibits the sale or transportation of birds and poultry between governorates, and failure to comply could result in the confiscation of the stock. However, this regulation has not been actively enforced even now, 11 years on.
Juma’a says that enforcing this directive would contribute to tightening the controls. The mechanisms of transporting and slaughtering need licenses that declare the eligibility status of the herd or flock for transportation or its slaughter. Therefore, if there is proof of antibiotic residues in the flock, the transportation will not be permitted until after the safety period has passed.
Regulation No. (517) of 1986 issued by the Ministry of Agriculture defines the procedures for examining poultry on the farm. Part two of chapter one discusses examining poultry for the purpose of slaughter, whether in public slaughterhouses or by private farm owners. It states that the owner of the farm must notify the Veterinary Medicine Directorate, located in its Governorate, of the intention to slaughter the flock. The Directorate would then appoint a veterinarian to submit a report on the suitability of the flock for slaughter and consumption.
A Continuing Danger
A bulletin on the FAO website entitled “Microbial Resistance to Drugs: What You Need to Know” explains that an estimated 700,000 people die annually from inflammation caused by resistance to antimicrobial drugs. FAO considers this phenomenon a major global threat to public health and food safety.
Regulators Are Evading Responsibility
Several attempts to discuss this issue with the spokesperson of the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Mohammad Al-Qirsh, failed. Instead, he referred us to the head of the General Organization for Veterinary Services, Dr. Abdel-Hakam Mahmoud. We tried to contact him several times through WhatsApp and then through a number of phone calls. At last we managed to explain our investigation concerning the Organization’s supervision of poultry farms.
In that single phone conversation, the head of the Organization for Veterinary Services evaded responsibility, saying, “The Organization is not the body tasked with measuring the quantities of antibiotic residues (left in the meat), this is the duty of the National Food Safety Authority.” This statement contradicts the nature of the work and role of the Veterinary Organization whose function is to follow up, and supervise poultry farms as stipulated by the law.
