There are some interesting developments taking place in Europe regarding the cleaning and disinfection of drinking water in poultry production, particularly when it comes to treating drinking water while the animals are present in the house. Authorities are increasingly keeping a close watch on farmers when they use products at the farm, such as cleaning and disinfection agents.
Authorities are very clear about which products may or may not be used at a poultry farm. This is regulated at the European level by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). For the poultry sector, ECHA recognises 3 key types of registrations:
- PT03: Products that may be used for disinfecting animal housing, equipment, and vehicles.
- PT04: Products that may be used to disinfect surfaces and equipment that come into contact with food or feed, including poultry processing.
- PT05: Products that may be used to treat or disinfect drinking water for poultry.
This means that when a farmer uses a disinfectant, it should have an ECHA registration for the correct PT category. This ensures:
- The product is officially approved and tested for use around animals.
- The farmer is compliant with EU legislation and won’t face regulatory issues. No risk of a fine or a recall.
- There is traceability and safety assurance for food production and animal welfare.
Put simply, products registered under PT3 and PT4 are only intended for use when poultry houses are empty. Only products holding PT3, PT4 and PT5 approvals can be safely and legally applied in empty houses and while birds are present.
When a farmer uses a disinfectant, it should have an ECHA registration for the correct PT category, especially with live birds in the house. Photo: Misset
Real hygiene happens during the cycle
People often say, “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link”. Interestingly, the same applies to your animals’ drinking water system. There can be a significant difference between the quality of the water coming from the first nipple and that from the last one. Contamination and microbial growth rarely originate from the water source itself – they develop within the system.
This means that while the water from the first nipple may still be of very high quality, the water further down the line can already be of poor quality.
There are several possible reasons why contamination occurs within the system. One common cause is the use of additives in the drinking water. Nutritional supplements such as organic acids, vitamins, and medications can leave behind a biofilm inside the drinking system. No matter how small that biofilm is, it often serves as a breeding ground and hiding place for bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
We also observe that the water temperature gradually increases as it moves through the drinking system. This also affects the growth of microorganisms, as they thrive particularly well at slightly higher temperatures. Therefore, this is another important factor contributing to the greater likelihood of microbial contamination towards the end of the drinking system.
It is therefore of great importance to regularly clean the entire drinking water system to remove all microorganisms – with particular emphasis on cleaning all the way to the last nipple. Only PT5 approved products belong in the drinking line during the production cycle.
It is essential to verify in the ECHA database whether a biocide, in addition to PT02, PT03 and PT04, also holds a PT05 registration. Only PT05 registered products are permitted while poultry is present in the barn, ensuring the drinking lines remain free of biofilm and that birds receive clean, safe drinking water.
This is particularly important for:
- Farms where the incoming water already contains organic or microbial contamination.
- Livestock operations with long production cycles, such as breeder and layer farms.
- Producers who frequently administer additives, vaccines, or medicines via the drinking water.
- Large, intensive poultry farms with long water systems that require effective cleaning and disinfection right up to the final nipple.
In short, PT05 registration is the only guarantee that a product is legally approved and effective for maintaining clean drinking lines and water while birds are present.
Source: poultryworld (28/03/2026)
