The European Commission is considering re-authorising processed animal protein for non-ruminant feed as part of the ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy.
With this in mind, it launched a public consultation from 9 March to 6 April on a draft regulation (http://bit.ly/3eXNqj4 ) to allow the use of non-ruminant proteins and insects in poultry and pig feed.
The ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy is planning this development to make better use of proteins and other feed materials produced in the EU and therefore, reduce the EU’s dependence on proteins imported from non-Member States.
The Commission expects the delegated regulation amending the existing regulation to be adopted in the third quarter of 2021. Strict requirements will have to be applied during the collection, transport and processing of these products and regular testing will have to be carried out to avoid cross-contamination with prohibited ruminant proteins, the Commission says.
Since the total ban on processed animal protein in farm animal feed in 2001 due to outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the epidemiological situation in the EU has improved considerably (no BSE cases since 2016 and 24 Member States with ‘negligible BSE risk’ status).
Animal meal has already been authorised since 2013 in aquaculture (2017 for those derived from insects). Link to the consultation: http://bit.ly/3eWNPSE (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)