[Animal feed additives, veterinary drugs and the environment]

The use of feed additives and veterinary drugs is an established feature in current animal production practices. Having been administered to the animals, these compounds are excreted virtually in toto in the faeces and urine, thus reaching the environment (soil, surface water) in their initial form and/or in the form of metabolites. In the present paper, the extent of environmental pollution by residues of feed additives and animal drugs, the resulting problems and the requirements of the authorities as regards the collection of information on the environmental impact of this type of compounds, are briefly reviewed. Finally, some instances of studies done in this field are presented.