What is BS EN 15621-Methods of sampling and analysis of animal feeds about?
BS EN 15621 is a standard that serves technical specifications for methods of sampling and analysis of animal feeds to ensure their quality, longevity and nutritional value.
BS EN 15621 specifies a method for determining the elements calcium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sulphur, iron, zinc, copper, manganese and cobalt in animal feeding stuffs by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) after pressure digestion.
BS EN 15621 method was fully statistically tested and evaluated for the elements calcium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sulphur, iron, zinc, copper, manganese and cobalt within the following 11 animal feeds: two complete feeds (pig feed, sheep feed), three complementary feeds (three mineral feeds), one mineral premixture, three feed materials (MgO, phosphate, CaCO3) and two feed additives (CuSO4, bentonite).
BS EN 15621 is applicable as a screening method for elements with HORRAT values higher than 2 (e.g. potassium and sulphur).
Other elements like molybdenum, lead, cadmium, arsenic were not fully statistically tested and evaluated within eleven animal feeding stuff samples because these elements did not occur in concentrations higher than the limit of quantification in most of these samples. Therefore, a single laboratory validation is necessary to use the BS EN 15621 multi-element method for these elements.
In the BS EN 15621 method, for the determination of extractable lead in minerals and feeds containing phyllosilicates (e.g. kaolinite clay), wet digestion with nitric acid should be used.
In the BS EN 15621 method, the method limit of quantification for each element depends on the sample matrix and the instrument. A limit of quantification of 1 mg/kg should normally be obtained.
Note 1: BS EN 15621 method can also determine minerals in products with high mineral content (>5 %). For this purpose, the method’s accuracy has to be checked individually. Other more matrix-specific analytical techniques are also available.
Note 2: Results using this European Standard EN 15621 may be higher than those obtained when applying EN 15510 as pressure digestion is used in EN 15621.
Note 3: BS EN 15621 method is not applicable for determining low concentrations of elements.
Who is BS EN 15621-Methods of sampling and analysis of animal feeds for?
BS EN 15621 on methods of sampling and analysis of animal feeds applies to:
- Manufacturers of animal feeds
- Dealers and importers of animal feeds
- Testing labs for animal feeds
- Quality assurance services
- Regulatory bodies
Why should you use BS EN 15621-Methods of sampling and analysis of animal feeds?
The elements calcium, sodium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, cobalt, molybdenum are effective nutritional additives found in animal feeds that provide essential nutrition to animals to promote growth and vitality.
BS EN 15621 provides users guidance on principle, reagents, sampling, preparation of test sample, procedure, calculation, expression of results, precision and test report that enables the detection and assessment of micronutrients in animal feeds to ensure its quality and safety.
BS EN 15621 provides users guidance on the inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) method for determining micronutrients in animal feeds. BS EN 15621 also provides users with a step-by-step procedure for the process, enabling users to do the technique correctly.
The adoption of BS EN 15621 allows users to evaluate the nutritional value of animal feeding stuff that enhances the vitality, growth and strength in animals.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 15621:2017 supersedes BS EN 15621:2012, which is now withdrawn.
