EU Proposes Ban on Feed Antibiotics

March 26, 2002

The European Commission wants to prohibit the use of antibiotics as growth-promoting feed additives. The four remaining authorized antibiotics currently used as growth-promoters in feed would have to be phased out as of January 2006, according to a commission proposal.

All new authorizations of feed additives would be granted for 10 years only. Companies marketing feed additives authorized under existing legislation would have to, within the next seven years, apply for re-evaluation and re-authorisation of their products.

The new rules would require that companies demonstrate the positive effect for the animal (efficacy) and the absence of a risk for human health, animal health and the environment (safety). The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) would be in charge of evaluating all feed additives.

It would set up clear guidelines and a transparent assessment process including public consultation of interested parties. Procedures for authorizing feed additives as they evolved since 1970 have become time-consuming, cumbersome and confusing for companies and regulators alike, according to the commission.

The new rules would cover additives like flavors or vitamins intended for use in feedstuffs and in drinking water for animals. Only additives that are authorized could be put on the market, used or processed, for specific animal species and with a maximum dosage allowance.

These substances would be listed in five broad categories: technological additives (e.g. preservatives), sensory additives (e.g. flavors, colorants), nutritional additives (e.g. vitamins), zootechnical additives (e.g. gut flora improvers, non-microbial growth promoters) and coccidiostats (additives to prevent poultry diseases).