July 21, 2006

EFSA holds public consultations for feed additives risks
 

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a public consultation on the risks to the environment posed by various additives in animal feed before recommending its guidelines.

The consultation aims to have a consolidated approach across Europe on assessing environmental risks of additives in animal feed. The EU currently has no guidance on allowed limits.

The consultation was called in response to concerns that additives and substances in animal feed may leak into the local environment, such as soil and groundwater.

The same additives are generally used in feed over long periods, thus causing long term damage, according to the European Directive on assessing additives in animal nutrition.

EFSA scientists have spent the last few months devising methods to investigate the concentrations of feed additives likely to have leaked into the environment.

EFSA's scientific panel on additives and products or substances used in animal feed (FEEDAP) has now drawn up proposed guidelines for public commentary.

The launching of this public consultation represents an important step in the interests of environmental protection and the health and safety of consumers, said FEEDAP chair professor Andrew Chesson.