Crises like BSE and dioxin triggered new feed regulations, with the aim to increase feed safety. The general food law (Regulation 178/2002) has been the basis for several feed regulations. For feed additives, most important are Regulations 1831/2003 and 429/2008 and for feed hygiene, requirements are laid down in Regulation 183/2005. For feeds (and feed ingredients) there is a new regulation, 767/2009, published on the 1 st of September 2009 . Beside that, there is a lot more legislation in this field, specially focussing on special areas of feed or feed additives. The legislation on undesirable substances can be mentioned as an example.

Feed safety is more than undesirable substances alone, there is also a lot of concern on the safety of feed additives itself. Such a feed additive can only enter market when it is authorised by the EU authorities. For registration of a feed additive, several aspects of safety are considered. This registration is a long during process in which EFSA is asked to evaluate the safety of a proposed additive. In addition to the EU feed regulations, EFSA has set up guidances for the safety assessment of new feed additives. These guidances are set-up to further guide an applicant of a feed additive, thereby increasing the level of safety. When safety is mentioned here, it means safety for the animal, the consumer, the worker and the environment. A lot of issues are reviewed by EFSA as well as by the EU, before a new additive is authorised to be marketed.

The amount of work, time and money involved to fulfil the requirements of the new regulations, restricts the number of innovative products on the market. On the other hand, in comparison with the past, the new regulations and guidances give a more clear view to the requirements which are needed to get allowance for a product.

For feed it has been the principle the products are allowed as feed material unless there is a reason not to. This has lead to a lot of regulations restricting products, applications or levels of residues, changing all the time.

A new feed law, is published on the first of September 2009 , will be applied in September 2010. This feed law intends to harmonise the conditions for the marketing of feed and to structure information to the consumers in a better way. Labelling is an important part in this and in addition the legislation proposes to set up a catalogue of feedingstuffs. By the repeal of several older regulations, it aims to simplify the current situation. It also opens possibilities for a better differentiation to define what kind of products are considered feed materials, feed additives and veterinary products. It further addresses issues as dietetic feeds and complementary feeds. It is interesting to see that the new law makes it possible to put some claims on feeds.