dsm-firmenich has issued a global advisory urging feed manufacturers and buyers to stay vigilant when sourcing 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) feed ingredients, following a major regulatory development in China that could reshape global feed supply chains.
The China Feed Industry Association (CFIA) has introduced new group standards — T/CFIAS 3039–2025 and T/CFIAS 3040–2025 — restricting the use and sale of any 25OHD3 feed additives containing detectable levels of 1α,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol) within China. This marks a significant advance in feed safety, traceability, and quality control across the country. However, dsm-firmenich warns that the move could have unintended global repercussions. Products that no longer comply with China’s new purity standards may be redirected to international markets, particularly in regions where regulations are less stringent.
“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,” said José María Hernández, Global Special Nutrients ANH, dsm-firmenich. “Now more than ever, buyers everywhere should 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.”
China, the world’s biggest producer of livestock and consumer of feed, has a significant impact on global standards and the availability of ingredients. Rejected or reformulated products may now be sold overseas due to the CFIA’s new regulations, which discourage products with even trace amounts of calcitriol. This increases the possibility that uncontrolled elements will find their way into international feed markets.
The use of calcitriol in feed is already severely limited or prohibited in places like the US and the EU, which emphasises the need for buyers to be more watchful.
DSM-Firmenich advises feed producers, dietitians, and integrators to:
-Check if the provider complies with the most recent CFIA and international standards.
-Ask for analytical certifications attesting to calcitriol levels that are “not detectable.”
-Select reliable 25OHD3 sources with a track record of safety and worldwide registration, such as Hy-D.
The company’s caution highlights a larger industry demand for openness, quality control, and ethical sourcing—particularly as changing laws in significant markets like China have an impact on the global feed and animal nutrition scene.
