Stricter feed laws in the Netherlands

Related tags Animal feed Netherlands

Legislation in the Netherlands has been passed that substantially
reduces the number of ingredients that can be used in the
manufacture of livestock feed. Food processors in Europe will be
looking closely to see whether such legislation will catch on
elsewhere.

Under the new law, manufacturers may only use feed materials for which there is a risk assessment available in the Dutch Databank Risicobeoordelingen Voedermiddelen (Feed Materials Risk Assessment Database) of the Animal Feed Product Board​. The risk assessment must be carried out in accordance with the standards of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points and must demonstrate that the product in question can safely be used as an ingredient in animal feed.

The Dutch have a quality assurance system called Integrated Chain Control (IKB). Animal feed manufacturers that supply IKB-certified establishments in the pork, beef, and veal sectors must comply with the Code of Good Manufacturing Practice for the production of animal feed. Since 2001 these establishments have been required to apply the principles of HACCP. The obligation to use only products that have undergone a risk assessment came into effect this month.

In 2002 the European Commission looked at whether it would be advisable and feasible to have a list of authorised animal feed ingredients - known in the industry as a 'positive list'. The evaluation report it commissioned noted that the introduction of a positive list would not, in itself, ensure feed and food safety.

The Dutch animal feed sector had also come to the same conclusion and was therefore examining the possibility of introducing a compulsory requirement to carry out HACCP-based risk assessments for all feed materials as part of the GMP regulations for the animal feed sector.

No risk assessments have been submitted for any products other than those included in the database. Products that are not included are therefore no longer acceptable for use in the manufacture of or trading in animal feed.

Approved risk assessments will be periodically evaluated and, if necessary, updated. A number of products included in the database are still undergoing a risk assessment. These may be used as a transitional measure until a final decision is taken on the risk assessment.

Related topics Regulation Europe Safety

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