Fitness check for EU feed additives regulation

By Jane Byrne

- Last updated on GMT

© istock/Zerbor
© istock/Zerbor

Related tags European union Eu

The European Commission is seeking comments on the extent to which the existing EU feed additive legislative framework is fit for purpose.

The Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG Santé) is asking if the regulation has performed in delivering its objectives.

It said it would use the responses it receives in its evaluation of whether the legislation – Regulation (EC) 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition​ - is still relevant.

Feedback can be submitted​from now until 25 September 2017.

The Commission said the EU feed additives regulation has not undergone an evaluation since its entry into force in October 2003.  

“Considering the context of the Commission's better regulation policy, an evaluation of the regulation appears timely and appropriate.”

Before a feed additive may be marketed or used, it must be authorized in accordance with the provisions of the current EU feed additives regulation. To obtain authorization a manufacturer, or his agent, is required to submit a dossier containing data and studies, which demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the product for animals, consumers and the environment.  

The Commission is also in the process of updating Regulation (EC) 429/2008, which consists of the guidelines for industry on the preparation and presentation of feed additive authorization applications.

The EU officials said they would evaluate the overall effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and benefit for the EU of the regulation to be able to identify possible regulatory burdens, overlaps, inconsistencies, obsolete measures and gaps in the legislative framework.

“The evaluation should help the Commission to have a better understanding of where, and why, the current EU legislation has worked well or not so well, identifying factors which have helped or hampered achievement of the objectives.

“It will also analyze whether the legislation is still adapted to the needs of society and in line with other Commission priorities such as fostering jobs and growth.”

Hundreds of feed additives reached the 10-year authorization limit and were submitted for re-authorization since the entry into force of the Regulation in 2004.  “We have gained experience through this reauthorization process and have identified several problems that could be looked into during the evaluation,” ​said the Commission.  

You can access the comment posting section in relation to the current feed additives legislation here​.

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