April 2011 update on the Animal Nutrition Section of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health

Feed additives
Votes were taken on seven Commission proposals for feed additive authorisations – all of these received a vote in favour. A summary of these proposals is given in the table below:

Feed additive authorisations – April 2011 SCoFCAH (Animal Nutrition Section)

Additive	Additive type	Proposal number	Authorisation type
Robenidine hydrochloride	coccidiostat	SANCO/10443/2011	re-authorisation
Monensin sodium	zootechnical	SANCO/10444/2011	authorisation of new formulation
Sodium benzoate	zootechnical	SANCO/10445/2011	new authorisation
Endo-1,4-β-xylanase, endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase and polygalacturonase	digestibility enhancer	SANCO/10477/2011	extension to other species
Vitamin B6	vitamin	SANCO/10487/2011	re-authorisation
Endo-1,4-β-xylanase	digestibility enhancer	SANCO/10477/2011	re-authorisation
Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis	gut flora stabiliser	SANCO/10711/2011	authorisation to include compatibility with formic acid

Marketing and use of feed – Regulation 767/2009
There was a discussion on assessments of the applications made for products for particular purposes (PARNUTS) made under Articles 2 and 32 of Regulation 767/2009. Most of the rapporteur assessments had now been received. Comments, requests for additional information and comments from the rapporteurs would shortly be forwarded to the applicants by the Commission.

There was a further discussion on a draft of the FEDIAF Code for Good Labelling Practice for Pet Food. The draft was generally acceptable to member states. However, it was agreed that the Commission would raise a few issues with the European pet food trade association to make a few amendments to the code.

Controls on dioxins in feed
There was further discussion on possible new controls for the presence of dioxins in animal feed. The two papers discussed at the March meeting had been combined, with a few additions made to the text. However, the main parts of the Commission documents remained in place – these raised the same general objections and comments as were made at the March meeting. Despite the issues raised (especially for the mandatory monitoring plan), the Commission indicated that it might take a proposal to a vote in June.

Undesirable substances
There was a discussion on a recent Opinion from EFSA’s FEEDAP Panel concerning the use of hemp-based feed materials. The Commission explained that it was legal to cultivate Cannabis varieties in the European Union, provided that they contain only very low levels of the psychoactive substance THC. However, there had been concerns that even the levels of THC contained in these varieties might lead to the presence of this substance in milk via hemp material present in fodder for cattle. The committee discussed a possible ban on the use of feed materials derived from whole hemp plants via inclusion in Annex III part 1 of Regulation 767/2009, and a possible maximum content for feed materials derived from hemp seeds via an appropriate entry in Annex I of Directive 2002/32.

SCoFCAH is a European Commission regulatory committee that was established by Regulation 178/2002, a regulation that includes the laying down of principles and requirements of feed law. Meetings of the committee are chaired by European Commission officials, and attended by member states' representatives. The committee can give an opinion, that is to say a vote, on certain proposed measures, prior to their possible adoption by the Commission.

SCoFCAH has eight sections. The Animal Nutrition Section deals with animal feed and meets about 10 times each year. Information about the outcome of each meeting will be published on this website.

For further information about the SCoFCAH Animal Nutrition Section, email Dr Ray Smith at: ray.smith@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk.