Brussels, 18/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is awaiting a final study before it possibly makes any decisions on the question of animal proteins.
The European Commissioner for Health, Vytenis Andriukaitis, was responding to MEPs from the Agriculture Committee on 15 March and explained that the “European Commission Joint Research Centre is currently analysing existing detection measures on animal flours and we will study this report to see what decision to take in this matter”. For several years, the Commission has been looking at the possibility of gradually reintroducing processed non-ruminant animal proteins into feed for poultry and pigs. Since June 2013, animal proteins have been reauthorized as part of fish food. For pigs and poultry, however, the situation is more complicated because reassurances are required on the question of there not being any intra-species consumption (or “cannibalism”). Livestock factories currently produce feed for different species and farmers themselves rear different kinds of animals. Reliable tests helping to differentiate flours according to their origin and a traceability mechanism are therefore expected to be introduced. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)