Scientific Opinion on the safety and efficacy of Avatec®150G (lasalocid A sodium) for pheasants, partridges, quails and guinea-fowl1,2

Avatec®150G is a coccidiostat containing 15 % of the active substance lasalocid A sodium. Avatec®150G is proposed as a coccidiostat for pheasants, partridges, quails and guinea fowl at a dose range of 75-120 mg lasalocid sodium/kg complete feed. Based on data provided in tolerance studies with pheasants and guinea fowl, the FEEDAP Panel concludes that 120 mg lasalocid sodium/kg complete feed are safe for these species. The margin of safety is estimated to be 1.7 for pheasants and 2 for the guinea fowl, respectively. Since pheasants, partridges and quails belong to the same avian family, the FEEDAP Panel extends the conclusion on the safety of 120 mg lasalocid sodium/kg feed for pheasants to quails and partridges. Lasalocid A sodium may be dangerous for equine species and its simultaneous use with certain medicinal substances can be contra-indicated in all poultry species. Considering comparable dose regimen and the physiological similarity of the species concerned the metabolic and residual status common to chicken and turkey can be extrapolated to the poultry minor species under application. Additional residue studies in pheasants and quails confirm the relevance of this extrapolation. A five-day withdrawal period is required to ensure compliance with the MRLs for poultry tissues, except eggs (for which the withdrawal period is estimated to be considerably longer). The FEEDAP Panel reiterates its former conclusions that it is unlikely that Avatec®150G would pose a risk to the user/worker handling the additive. The use of Avatec® 150G in minor poultry species, at the maximum recommended feed concentration, is not expected to pose a risk to the environment. A combination of battery floor pen and field studies involving the species under application allowed the FEEDAP Panel to conclude that for all four minor poultry species the anticoccidial effective dose range of lasalocid sodium is 75-125 mg/kg feed.