Gallifen 40 mg/g Premix for Medicated Feeding Stuff for Chickens and Pheasants

Fenbendazole

Last verified

Veterinary medicinal product: premix for medicated feeding stuff. Distribution category: POM-V (Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3). Active substance: Fenbendazole.1

In short: questions and answers

Does Gallifen 40 mg/g Premix for Medicated Feeding Stuff for Chickens and Pheasants need a prescription?
Prescription only. As stated in the registration decision.1
Which animals is Gallifen 40 mg/g Premix for Medicated Feeding Stuff for Chickens and Pheasants for?
Chickens, Pheasants.1
What is the active substance in Gallifen 40 mg/g Premix for Medicated Feeding Stuff for Chickens and Pheasants?
Fenbendazole. ATCvet code: QP52AC13.13
What is the withdrawal period of Gallifen 40 mg/g Premix for Medicated Feeding Stuff for Chickens and Pheasants according to the leaflet?
Chickens, meat: 8 days; Chickens, eggs: 0 days; Pheasants, meat: 8 days; Pheasants, eggs: 0 days.3
Dispensing
Prescription only1

POM-V: Prescription Only Medicine - Veterinarian. Supplied only on a prescription written by a veterinary surgeon who has assessed the animal.12

Supplied only on a veterinarian's prescription. As stated in the registration decision.

Animal species
Chickens1, Pheasants1
Active substance
Fenbendazole
ATCvet code
QP52AC133
Manufacturer
Marketing authorisation holder: Huvepharma NV

Withdrawal period

Animal speciesProductdays
Chickensmeat83
Chickenseggs03
Pheasantsmeat83
Pheasantseggs03
Summary of product characteristics

Composition

Each gram contains:

Active substance:

Fenbendazole 40 mg

Excipients:

Qualitative composition of excipients and other constituents
Maize starch
Starch, pregelatinised

Off-white to light yellow granules.

3

Pharmacological properties

4.1 ATCvet code: QP52AC13

4.2 Pharmacodynamics

Fenbendazole is an anthelmintic belonging to the benzimidazole-carbamate group. It acts by interfering with the energy metabolism of the nematode.

Fenbendazole inhibits the polymerisation of tubulin to microtubules. This interferes with essential structural and functional properties of the cells of helminths, such as formation of the cytoskeleton, formation of the mitotic spindle and the uptake and intracellular transport of nutrients and metabolic products. Fenbendazole has activity against Ascaridia galli (adult stage) and Heterakis gallinarum (L5 and adult stages) in chickens and against H. gallinarum (adult stage) in pheasants.

4.3 Pharmacokinetics

After oral administration fenbendazole is only partially absorbed. Following absorption, fenbendazole is rapidly metabolised in the liver mainly to its sulphoxide (oxfendazole) and further to its sulphone (oxfendazole sulphone). In chickens oxfendazole sulfone is the main component detected in plasma, accounting for about 3/4 of the total AUC (ie the sum of the AUC for fenbendazole, oxfendazole and oxfendazole sulphone). Fenbendazole and its metabolites are distributed throughout the body, reaching highest concentrations in the liver.

The elimination of fenbendazole and its metabolites occurs primarily via the faeces.

3

Target species

Chickens and pheasants.

3

Indications

Treatment of chickens infected with Heterakis gallinarum (L5 and adult stages) and Ascaridia galli (adult stages).

Treatment of pheasants infected with Heterakis gallinarum (adult stages).

3

Dosage

In feed use.

The daily dose is 1 mg fenbendazole per kg bodyweight per day administered in feed for 5 consecutive days.

For the preparation of medicated feed:

1 mg fenbendazole per kg bodyweight per day corresponds to 0.025 g of the veterinary medicinal product per kg bodyweight per day.

For the preparation of the medicated feed the bodyweight of the animals to be treated and their actual daily intake of feed should be taken into due account.

To provide the required amount of fenbendazole per kg medicated feed the premix has to be incorporated into the feed according to the following formula:

(0.025 g of the veterinary medicinal product per kg bodyweight daily) X (average bodyweight (kg) of the animals to be treated) / (average daily feed intake per animal (kg)) = g of the veterinary medicinal product per kg feed

For incorporation into dry feed at the registered mill:

A manufacturer who is approved to incorporate veterinary medicinal products, or premixtures containing such veterinary medicinal products, directly at any concentration, must be responsible for mixing when incorporation is less than 2 kg per tonne for final feed.

To ensure adequate distribution of the veterinary medicinal product in the final feed it is recommended to premix the veterinary medicinal product at a ratio of 1:10 with feed ingredients before blending into the final feed. If the premix is used for supplementation of pelleted feed, the pelleting temperature should not exceed 105 °C.

Not to be mixed in liquid feed.

To ensure administration of a correct dose, bodyweight should be determined as accurately as possible.

The uptake of medicated feed depends on the clinical condition of the animals and environmental factors. The feed intake should be monitored regularly and the incorporation rate adjusted accordingly in order to guarantee an intake of 1 mg fenbendazole per kg bodyweight per day.

3

Contraindications

Do not use in cases of hypersensitivity to the active substance, other benzimidazoles or any of the excipients.

3

Adverse reactions

None known.

Reporting adverse events is important. It allows continuous safety monitoring of a veterinary medicinal product. Reports should be sent, preferably via a veterinarian, to either the marketing authorisation holder or its local representative or the national competent authority via the national reporting system. See the package leaflet for respective contact details.

3

Warnings

Special precautions for safe use in the target species:

The safety of the veterinary medicinal product at overdose has not been evaluated in chickens less than 8 weeks old.

Do not use in cases of Capillaria spp. infestations. The efficacy of the veterinary medicinal product at the recommended dosage is not sufficient for the treatment of infections with Capillaria spp. The absence of Capillaria spp. infestation should be confirmed prior to use of the veterinary medicinal product. In case of Capillaria infestation another appropriate anthelmintic veterinary medicinal product should be used. Use of the veterinary medicinal product deviating from the instructions in the SPC may increase the risk of development of resistance.

Special precautions to be taken by the person administering the veterinary medicinal product to animals:

This veterinary medicinal product may be toxic to humans after ingestion. This veterinary medicinal product may cause eye irritation and skin sensitisation. Contact with the skin and eyes or accidental ingestion of the veterinary medicinal product should be avoided.

When handling or mixing, care should be taken to avoid direct contact with the skin and eyes, and inhalation of dust, by wearing goggles, impervious gloves and a disposable half-mask respirator conforming to European Standard EN149 or a non-disposable respirator to European Standard EN 140 with a filter to EN 143. In the event of accidental ingestion, rinse mouth with plenty of clean water and seek medical advice.

In case of skin and/or eye contact, immediately rinse with plenty of water. Embryotoxic effects cannot be excluded. Pregnant women must take extra precautions when handling this veterinary medicinal product.

Wash hands after use.

Special precautions for the protection of the environment:

The veterinary medicinal product should not be allowed to enter surface waters as fenbendazole may be dangerous for fish and other aquatic organisms.

3.11 Special restrictions for use and special conditions for use, including restrictions on the use of antimicrobial and antiparasitic veterinary medicinal products in order to limit the risk of development of resistance

Not applicable.

3

Use during pregnancy, lactation or lay

Laying birds:

Can be used in chickens in lay.

Fertility:

The safety of the veterinary medicinal product has not been evaluated in breeding pheasants. Therefore in these birds use only according to the benefit/risk assessment by the responsible veterinarian.

3

Interactions

None known.

3

Overdose

No undesirable effects have been observed in chickens (8-9 weeks of age) at up to 5 times the recommended dose.

Although not observed in studies investigating the effects of overdosing in other classes of the target species, an increase in water intake compared with controls has been reported in laying hens treated with a dose exceeding 3X the recommended dose.

A small (<3%) but statistically significant difference in mean body weight of chicks from treated layers was observed in conditions of overdosing (3X the recommended dose for a duration exceeding 3X the recommended one in clinical conditions).

3

Special warnings

Suspected clinical cases of resistance to anthelmintics should be further investigated using appropriate tests (e.g. Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test). Where the results of the test(s) strongly suggest resistance to a particular anthelmintic an anthelmintic belonging to another pharmacological class and having a different mode of action should be used.

Care should be taken to avoid the following practices because they increase the risk of development of resistance and could ultimately result in ineffective therapy:

• Too frequent and repeated use of anthelmintics from the same class, over an extended period of time.

• Under dosing, which may be due to underestimation of body weight, misadministration of the veterinary medicinal product, or lack of calibration of the dosing device (if any).

3

Withdrawal period

Chickens:

Meat and offal: 8 days.

Eggs: Zero days.

Pheasants:

Meat and offal: 8 days. Do not release pheasants for hunting for at least 8 days after the end of medication.

Eggs: Zero days.

3

Incompatibilities

In the absence of compatibility studies, this veterinary medicinal product must not be mixed with other veterinary medicinal products.

3

Immediate packaging

Polyethylene-aluminium-paper/paper/paper bag of 20 kg.

Polyethylene/aluminium foil/polyethylene terephthalate zipper bags of 1, 2 and 5 kg. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

3

Storage

Veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: no special storage precautions. After first opening of the immediate packaging: do not store above 25°C.

Medicated feed (mash and pelleted): no special storage precautions.

3

Shelf life

Shelf life of the veterinary medicinal product as packaged for sale: 3 years. Shelf life after first opening the immediate packaging: 3 months.

Shelf life after incorporation into meal or pelleted feed: 3 months.

3

Disposal of unused product

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater.

The veterinary medicinal product should not enter water courses as fenbendazole may be dangerous for fish and other aquatic organisms.

Use take-back schemes for the disposal of any unused veterinary medicinal product or waste materials derived thereof in accordance with local requirements and with any national collection systems applicable to the veterinary medicinal product concerned.

3

Additional information

Vm 30282/3029 & 30282/5027

8 DATE OF FIRST AUTHORISATION

24 January 2017

9 DATE OF THE LAST REVISION OF THE SUMMARY OF THE PRODUCT CHARACTERISTICS

August 2024

10 CLASSIFICATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINAL PRODUCTS

Veterinary medicinal product subject to prescription.

Detailed information on this veterinary medicinal product is available in the Union Product Database (https://medicines.health.europa.eu/veterinary).

3

Registration holder

Huvepharma NV

3

Regulations

Sources

  1. VMD Product Information Database: Gallifen 40 mg/g Premix for Medicated Feeding Stuff for Chickens and Pheasants, 30282/5027 UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate (OGL v3.0), checked 2026-10-04 archived copy from 2026-10-04
  2. The Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, Schedule 3 (categories of veterinary medicinal products) UK Government, legislation.gov.uk, checked 2026-10-04 archived copy from 2026-10-04
  3. Summary of Product Characteristics: Gallifen 40 mg/g Premix for Medicated Feeding Stuff for Chickens and Pheasants UK Veterinary Medicines Directorate, SPC of the marketing authorisation holder, checked 2026-10-04 archived copy from 2026-10-04

Other products with the same active substance

All products with this active substance (17)

The same active substance in other countries

These are different medicines with different authorisations. The dispensing status is the one on each product's own page, which gives its basis. The leaflet of the product in hand applies.

Spain

All products with this active substance (7)

Poland

All products with this active substance (4)

Ukraine

All products with this active substance (6)