February 7, 2009

EU approves compromise rules for animal feed labelling

The European Parliament on Thursday (Feb 5) approved the compromise negotiated with the EU Council of Ministers on review of animal feed regulations.

The compromise safeguards buyers' rights to information and intellectual property of feed producers.

The text to the compromise on the marketing and use of feed was approved without amendment. Once formally adopted by the Council, the new provisions will take effect during the course of this year.

The new legislation could simply and modernise existing procedures for labelling and marketing animal feed and pet food.

The new regulation could also improve the system's efficiency while maintaining the EU's high standard of animal health and welfare, food and feed safety, according to Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou.

The text also contains provisions on the following issues- responsibility of feed business operations; negative list with prohibited substances for feed use; mandatory labelling of particulars for feed materials and mixed feed; creation of a guide to good labelling for animal feed and pet food; and the establishment of a community catalogue of feed materials used for feed production.