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Christoph von Holst
European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements, Geel, Belgium

An integral part of modern animal husbandry is the use of feed additives which aim to improve animal production, performance and welfare. Placing theses products on the market however requires that they have been previously authorised by the European Commission. The authorisation can only be granted after a scientific evaluation demonstrating amongst other aspects that the additive has no harmful effects on human and animal health and on the environment. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is responsible for conducting the risk assessment for each product on a case by case basis. Based on EFSA's evaluation the European Commission in its role as risk manager decides on whether authorisation can be granted or not. This new authorisation system has been implemented by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition

When evaluating the applicants' dossiers for a specific product, the EFSA is assisted by the Community Reference Laboratory (CRL) for Feed Additives. The role of the CRL is outlined in Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 which is further specified by Regulation (EC) No 378/2005 and last amended by Regulation (EC) No 850/2007. The CRL is supported by a network of National Reference Laboratories (NRL's).

The main objective of the CRL's evaluation is to look at the suitability of the analytical methods proposed by the applicants to determine the active substance, focusing on feedingstuffs as target matrix. In particular it is important to establish, whether the methods can be used in the frame of official control. The evaluation of the submitted analytical methods requires sound knowledge in the respective analytical field. Given the large variability of these methods, such a task con only be accomplished if the expertise of all NRLs is joined to come up with a scientifically sound evaluation of each dossier. The NRLs' contribution is assured by selecting for each dossier the most expertised laboratory  as rapporteur which conducts the evaluation of the analytical method. In addition the evaluation report is reviewed by all other NRLs.

Currently the Commission's guideline for the applicants is reviewed and the CRL is proposing a modification of the present guideline, just to render the dossier evaluation even more efficient. One aspect is the introduction of the transferability concept, requiring from the applicant that an exclusively single laboratory method is tested in another laboratory before it is submitted to the CRL.

The objective of the lecture is therefore to present an overview of the CRL's activity and its relation to the important topic of feed safety.