Fish Focus

25OHD3 FEED ADDITIVES DISCOURAGED IN CHINA MAY SOON ENTER GLOBAL MARKETS

Fish Focus

25OHD3 feed additives discouraged in China may soon enter global markets. dsm-firmenich is urging buyers and feed manufacturers to exercise caution when sourcing  25OHD3 feed ingredients in the coming months, following a major regulatory shift in China.

The China Feed Industry Association (CFIA) has recently introduced a landmark feed Group standard on the sale and use of any 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) feed additives containing detectable levels of 1α,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol) within China.

This move marks a major step forward in feed safety, traceability, and quality control, but it also carries global implications for feed and animal nutrition markets.

The new guidance also means that existing products containing calcitriol impurities, now discouraged in China, may be diverted to export markets. Experts warn that 25OHD3 products containing 1α,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol could easily enter circulation in other countries with less stringent regulations or enforcement.

José María Hernández, Global Special Nutrients ANH, dsm-firmenich said:
“China’s new feed standard is a significant step forward for China and global feed safety and quality assurance. It highlights the importance of knowing exactly what’s in your vitamin supply and choosing sources you can trust. Now more than ever, buyers everywhere should consider to prioritise reliable, high-quality and globally registered 25OHD3 sources with proven safety and efficacy, such as Hy-D®, which has been used safely in billions of tons of feed worldwide for more than 25 years.”
FAQs on New China Vitamin D3 Feed Standard
  • Under the new T/CFIAS 3039–2025 and T/CFIAS 3040–2025 standards, only high-purity 25OHD3 products that meet stringent specifications for active content, contaminants, and particle size are recommended by the China Feed Industry Association (CFIA) for use in China.
  • Any 25OHD3 additive with even trace levels of calcitriol is now discouraged from sale or use.

Why It Matters Beyond China?

  • China is the world’s largest livestock producer and feed consumer, influencing global standards and supply chains.
  • Products that no longer meet the new Chinese safety thresholds may be diverted to export markets, creating a heightened risk of those 25OHD3 feed additives entering international circulation.
  • Industry experts are warning that buyers should exercise caution when sourcing vitamin D3 feed ingredients in the coming months.
  • In the USA calcitriol is severely restricted to <1ppb calcitriol in 25OHD3 active substance. In the EU calcitriol is not approved as feed additive for poultry and swine.
  • Products rejected under CFIA’s new standards may still appear on the market elsewhere, despite containing hormonal impurities that may raise regulatory and safety concerns.

Industry Call to Action

Feed manufacturers, nutritionists, and integrators are encouraged to:

  • Verify supplier compliance of products manufactured in China with the latest CFIA and international standards.
  • Request analytical certificates confirming “not detectable” levels of calcitriol.
  • Prioritise trusted, globally registered 25OHD3 sources with proven safety and efficacy track records, such as HyD®, used safely in billions of tons of feed worldwide for over 25 years.

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