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

Feed additives
Votes were taken on six 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 – March 2011 SCoFCAH (Animal Nutrition Section)

Additive	Additive type	Proposal number	Authorisation type
Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415	gut flora stabiliser	SANCO/11556/2011	re-authorisation
Dimethylglycine	zootechnical	SANCO/13550/2011	amended authorisation
Clostridium butyricum FERM-BP 2789	gut flora stabiliser	SANCO/13550/2011	amended authorisation
Maduramicin ammonium alpha	coccidiostat	SANCO/13551/2011	re-authorisation
Endo-1,4-betaxylanase subtilisin alpha-amylase	digestibility enhancer	SANCO/10111/2011	new authorisation
Maduramicin ammonium alpha	coccidiostat	SANCO/10112/2011	amended authorisation

There was a discussion on a document concerning the withdrawal of authorisation for certain feed additives that had not been supported with an application under Article 10 of Regulation 1831/2003. It was generally agreed that a transition period to use up stocks of such products, plus premixture and compound feeds containing these additives should be allowed. It is expected that the Commission’s \proposal will go to a vote in the summer.

It was agreed that applications made for the use of feed additives in water should be assessed on a case by case basis, rather than on a horizontal basis.

Controls on dioxins in feed
The Commission tabled two working papers concerned with possible new controls for the presence of dioxins in animal feed. The main issues discussed were:

• compulsory reporting by laboratories of non-compliant results to competent authorities – this was given broad agreement, but there were concerns about possible infringement of confidentiality rights
• a mandatory monitoring programme (up to 100% of batches) for feed oils and fats and some related products – this was a contentious issue, with many member states opposed due to the lack of proportionality to the risk and undermining the principle that controls should be risk-based
• approval of feed business establishments manufacturing, blending, storing etc. of feed oils and fats under Regulation 183/2005 – this was considered to be generally acceptable
• controls of containers used for storage and transport – some member states were of the view that it would be disproportionate to the risk to require that containers used for feed oils and fats should be dedicated solely for this purpose.

Undesirable substances
There was a brief discussion on new controls for non-dioxin-like PCBs and a revision of the current controls for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs. It was agreed that there would be no increase in limits for certain marine-derived feed materials. It is hoped that a Commission proposal revising current limits for dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs and setting new limits for non-dioxin-like PCBs will go to a vote in June.

Concern was expressed at the relatively high number of alerts due to consignments of imported groundnuts whose aflatoxin B1 contents exceeded the statutory maximum limit.

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.