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Highlights Confirmed animal poisoning cases were 215/497 (43.2%) from 2009 to 2018. Anticoagulant rodenticides (79.2%) were the main cause of animal poisoning. The most affected areas are located along the coast. Dogs and cats were 40.0% of confirmed animal poisoning.

In 2013, the European Union (EU) lifted the feed ban restriction, authorizing the use of non-ruminant (NR) processed animal proteins (PAPs) as ingredient in aquafeed. A further relaxation is soon expected, and NR PAPs will be allowed in next future in poultry and pig feed, avoiding cannibalism. Other potential hazards linked to PAPs as raw material should be evaluated. Antibiotics administered along the lifecycle of animals may leave residue in tissues and bones and still be present in PAPs. This monitoring study aimed to determine tetracyclines (TCLs), known to cumulate in bones, in PAPs and their possible residual antibiotic activity (RAC). A sensitive Liquid Chromatography coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the quantification of TCLs in PAPs was developed and applied to 55 PAPs from EU manufactures. Most PAP samples (n = 40) contained TCLs (concentrations 25.59 ÷ 456.84 µg kg−1). Among samples containing more than 25 µg kg−1 for at least three TCLs, three PAPs were chosen for RAC test before and after TCLs extraction procedure applying an in vitro acidic digestion: in two out of those three samples, RAC was observed after in vitro digestion. TCLs were determined in the digested PAPs (concentrations 26.07 ÷ 64.55 µg kg−1). The detection of TCLs in PAPs should promptly target the risk assessments of this unconsidered way of exposure to antibiotic residues.

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Background Following the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in 2001, processed animal proteins (PAPs) reintroduction is envisaged in non-ruminant feed thanks to their high protein content, easy availability and cost-effective characteristics. PAPs must be submitted to rendering practices, providing sterilization of products, under standardized conditions of temperature and pressure, according to Regulation (EC) No 142/2011. However, the chemical risk associated to these raw materials has been never evaluated. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a reliable liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination and quantification of tetracycline residues in PAPs at µg kg− 1 level. Methods The LC-MS/MS method performances were evaluated in terms of specificity, linearity (25–500 µg kg− 1), limit of quantitation (LOQ) (25 µg kg− 1), accuracy and precision (CV% <25%), uncertainty, recovery (80–120%) and ruggedness. Results All the evaluated parameters fulfilled the analytical performance criteria and the validated LC-MS/MS method fits for purpose as confirmatory method on the occurrence of residues (µg kg− 1) of TCLs in PAPs. Conclusions PAPs are a powerful product which could be used both as raw material in feed and in organic fertilizer production in a circular economy context. Therefore the lack of regulation and control over antibiotics occurrence should be implemented to avoid a misuse and an increment of antibiotic resistance pressure over the environment and to ensure safety of the feed and food chain.