May 20, 2009

The European Commission has opened a new functional group under Regulation (EC) 1831/2003 for feed additives on EU's move against the reduction of the mycotoxin contamination to feed.

This first amendment to the new Feed Additive Regulation, first implemented in 2003, is not only a milestone regarding innovation by the European Union for the feed additive business, but also an important step forward in the integrated fight against mycotoxin contamination of feed.

Mycotoxins have become one of the most recognised feed chain contaminants, with hundreds of mycotoxins identified to date. The safety and economical impact of these contaminants within the food chain are sometimes considerable.

In the EU, two specific mycotoxins are regulated under strict limits while six more are subject to non-binding recommendations. The fight against mycotoxins is subject to integrated measures from field, to storage and transformation.

The lack of ability to reduce the contamination of feed by the use of adequate feed additives was considered the most ignored among EU regulations and which has been not been corrected by far.

The purpose of these feed additives is not just to clean  up or mask adulterated feed, but to help further reduce contaminants. It might also allow better management of the risk posed from non-regulated mycotoxins and for synergistic effects between mycotoxins at low concentrations.

According to this new regulatory status, three modes of action are recognised: substances that can suppress or reduce the absorption of mycotoxins, promote their excretion, or those that modify their mode of action. In all cases they are acting upon the feed and so the decision was to bring this new functional group under the 'Technological Additives' category.

The regulation will have important implications regarding the assessment and authorisation process. A number of developments are on-going within feed additive companies and several products that act within these three modes of action would be suitable candidates for authorisation within this new framework.

The decision made by the EC and member states (that will come into force on 2 June 2009) not only brings the contamination-reduction functionality clearly within the feed additives scope at the exclusion of any other one, but also means that all substances that aim at fulfilling this function and/or claim shall be subject to the general feed additives regime, including pre-market approval and inclusion in the EU positive list.

Fefana, the EU Feed Additives and Premixes Association, who has worked for a number of months on this development, is deeply satisfied by this decision. While Regulation 1831/2003 is indeed very demanding for feed additive operators, in particular regarding the ongoing re-authorisation process of all existing feed additives, the Fefana believes it will open a very positive aspect of the authorization system in place. It is indeed of the utmost importance for sustainability of the EU feed additive industry, that the EU legislative framework not only allows room for innovation, but also provides adequate transparency and protection to the operators who fulfill the high authorization requirements imposed on feed additives within the European Union.