Brussels, 05/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 5 February in Strasbourg, the European Parliament approved the compromise negotiated with the EU Council of Ministers on review of animal feed regulations. The compromise not only safeguards buyers' right to information but also the intellectual property of feed producers. The text of the compromise, annexed to the report by Friedrich Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf (Greens/EFA, Germany), on the marketing and use of feed was approved without amendment by 543 votes to 8 and 26 abstentions (see EUROPE 9823). Once they have been formally adopted by Council, the new provisions will take effect during the course of this year.
Androulla Vassiliou, Health Commissioner, welcomed the agreement. The new legislation will make it possible to simplify and modernise existing procedures for labelling and marketing animal feed and pet food. The new regulation “will make the overall system more efficient while maintaining the high level of protection of animal health, animal welfare, food and feed safety we have achieved in the EU”, the commissioner commented. In her view, the Union's livestock stock will help boost EU competitiveness.
The text contains provisions on the following main issues: - responsibility of the feed business operators; - negative list with prohibited substances for feed use (starches, urines, treated skins, household waste, etc.); - mandatory labelling of particulars for feed materials and mixed feed ; - creation of a guide to good labelling for farm animal feed and one for pet food; - and the establishment of a Community catalogue of feed materials used for the production of feed (the most relevant compounds). (L.C./transl.jl)