Safety and efficacy of Coxar® (nicarbazin) for turkeys for fattening

The coccidiostat Coxar^® is safe for turkeys for fattening at the use level of 100 mg nicarbazin/kg complete feed, with a margin of safety of about 1.25. Nicarbazin, when ingested, is rapidly split in its two components 2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethylpyrimidine (HDP) and dinitrocarbanilide (DNC), which behave independently. HDP-related residues are much lower than those of DNC. DNC is the marker residue. Liver is the target tissue. Nicarbazin is not genotoxic. The primary toxicity resulting from the oral use of nicarbazin is renal toxicity. The lowest no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) identified in a 52-week study in rat using DNC+HDP is 20 mg DNC + 8 mg HDP/kg body weight (bw) per day based on the absence of microcrystals in urine and related microscopic renal observations. The use of 100 mg nicarbazin from Coxar^®/kg complete feed for turkeys for fattening will not pose a risk to consumers, provided that maximum contents in nicarbazin of 0.1% <i>p</i>-nitroaniline (PNA) and 0.4% methyl(4-nitrophenyl) carbamate (M4NPC) would be respected. No withdrawal time is required. Residue data comply with the established maximum residue limits (MRLs). Nicarbazin is not a skin or eye irritant and not a skin sensitiser. These conclusions also apply to the additive Coxar^®. Inhalation toxicity of nicarbazin is limited; the granulated additive has a low dusting potential. No risk for users is identified. Based on the available data, the FEEDAP Panel cannot conclude on the safety of Coxar^® for the environment. The efficacy of 100 mg nicarbazin from Coxar^®/kg feed was demonstrated in three anticoccidial sensitivity tests (AST), but only in one floor pen study. The floor pen study with 75 mg nicarbazin failed to demonstrate evidence of efficacy. No final conclusions on the efficacy of nicarbazin from Coxar^® for turkeys for fattening can be drawn.