Cologne – Specialty chemicals company LANXESS is focusing its campaign for a 360-degree approach to biosecurity at EuroTier 2018, the world’s leading trade fair for biosecurity, which takes place from November 13 to 16 in Hannover, the capital of Lower Saxony. The approach centers on the key elements of biosecurity: cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, air, water and equipment. The LANXESS stand at the trade fair will feature high performance cleaners and disinfectants from the globally established Biosolve and Virkon brands.

“With our products, all actors in the supply chain can ensure that they have a biosecurity management system that works. Ultimately, the implementation of proven processes ensure higher productivity and economic stability,” says Stephan Cho, head of the Disinfection market segment in the Material Protection Products (MPP) business unit at LANXESS. “Producers must achieve maximum biosecurity, which is supported by intensive training and is achieved through the participation of all those involved in the farm – management, employees and suppliers” explains Cho, “we support them.”

The most important thing is prevention

Biosecurity is also the only way to prevent the spread of the African swine fever (ASF) virus as a vaccine does not yet exist. The German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture recently reiterated the need for strict compliance with biosecurity measures in pig farms.

ASF, which only affects domestic and wild pigs, is currently threatening animal populations in Europe and continues to spread. According to the Lower Saxony State Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (LAVES), the disease occurs in Poland, the Baltic states, Moldova, Romania, the Czech Republic, Ukraine, Hungary, Belgium, Sardinia, and parts of Africa. According to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), many cases have also been reported in China. China is already by far the world’s largest pig producer, producing more than half of the world’s pork.

The spread of the disease is possible through the transport of goods or animals and through people movement. It can be transmitted not only by direct contact from animal to animal, but also indirectly by contact with contaminated clothing, feed, slaughterhouse and food waste, animal feces, or equipment. Federal Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner stressed that primarily people spread the disease, for example by carelessly throwing away food waste containing contaminated pork products. This is a source of infection for wild pigs, which can then transmit the virus to domestic pigs.

Proven effective against ASF and bird flu

LANXESS’s Virkon S broad-spectrum disinfectant is recognized worldwide by industry and government agencies as highly effective in preventing and containing animal diseases. Virkon S is also recommended for use as protection against pathogens of African swine fever (ASF). The disinfectant has been proven effective against ASF at a dilution rate of 1:800 under organic load and at temperatures as low as 4 °C.

Virkon S has also been shown to kill a large number of strains of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. In a test at Accuratus Lab Services in the USA, it achieved complete elimination of the avian flu virus in just 60 seconds at an excellent dilution rate of 1:200.

The broad-spectrum formula of Virkon S is special: hardly any other disinfectant has such an efficient composition or such versatile application possibilities, and hardly any other disinfectant has been proven to be as safe in tests. The versatile application possibilities offer flexible solutions for the disinfection of surfaces, water pipe systems, and air. It works reliably even with hard water, porous surfaces, or heavy organic infestation, as well as at low temperatures. The addition of liquid monopropylene glycol (MPG) can lower the freezing point of disinfectant solutions to minus 10 °C without impairing their effectiveness. In order to prevent the transmission of pathogens, Virkon S can also be used in foot dips, and for vehicle disinfection.

Disinfection measures require cleaning

In addition to its disinfectants, LANXESS offers multipurpose high performance cleaning solutions specifically designed to quickly and effectively remove dirt from surfaces and equipment.

Biosolve Plus is a versatile alkaline cleaner and degreaser that is particularly suitable for the rapid removal of stubborn residues of caked-on feces and heavy organic contaminants – especially fats. Cleaning is carried out by foaming or spraying onto surfaces or equipment and is therefore ideal for use in hatcheries, agriculture, and food processing.

In the Department of Health Management at the University of Prince Edward Island, one of Canada’s leading veterinary training institutions, independent studies were conducted to compare the average washing time of a livestock owner using water alone versus using water and Biosolve. These tests showed that the use of water and Biosolve reduced the cleaning time by an average of 40 percent.

Biosolve E is a versatile multipurpose high performance cleaner. It is based on a highly alkaline mixture of nonionic and amphoteric surfactants in an aqueous solution containing a sequestering agent for excellent hard water performance. Biosolve E is specifically designed to quickly remove highly adherent organic contaminants from equipment and surfaces in stables, farm buildings, hatcheries, and processing plants.

Biofoam is an acidic, foaming cleaning agent with excellent decalcifying properties, ideal for removing soiling and calcium deposits in hatcheries and processing plants. It is also suitable for removing stubborn dirt from factory floors and floor slats in stables and agricultural buildings.

You can find out more about LANXESS’s commitment to biosecurity at www.virkon.com.