Regulation 2003/1831 - Additives for use in animal nutrition - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 268/29

Livestock production occupies a very important place in the agriculture of the Community. Satisfactory results depend to a large extent on the use of safe and good-quality feedingstuffs.

The free movement of safe and wholesome food and feed is an essential aspect of the internal market and contributes significantly to the health and well-being of citizens, and to their social and economic interests.

A high level of protection of human life and health should be assured in the pursuit of Community policies.

In order to protect human health, animal health and the environment, feed additives should undergo a safety assessment through a Community procedure before being placed on the market, used or processed within the Community. Since pet food is not part of the human food chain and has no environmental impact on arable land, specific provisions for additives in pet food are appropriate.

It is a principle of the Community food law enshrined in Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (4) that food and feed imported for placing on the market within the Community must comply with the relevant requirements of Community legislation or with conditions recognised by the Community to be at least equivalent thereto. It is therefore necessary to subject imports from third countries of additives for use in animal nutrition to requirements equivalent to those applying to additives produced in the Community.

Action by the Community relating to human health, animal health and the environment should be based on the precautionary principle.

In accordance with Article 153 of the Treaty, the Community is to contribute to promoting the right of consumers to information.

Experience with the application of Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 concerning additives in feedingstuffs (5) has shown that it is necessary to review all the rules on additives in order to take into account the need to ensure a greater degree of protection of animal and human health and of the environment. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that technological progress and scientific developments have made available new types of additives, such as those to be used on silage or in water.

This Regulation should also cover mixtures of additives sold to the end-user, and the marketing and use of those mixtures should comply with the conditions laid down in the authorisation of each single additive.

Premixtures should not be regarded as preparations covered by the definition of additives.

The basic principle in this field should be that only those additives approved under the procedure provided for in this Regulation may be placed on the market, used and processed in animal feeding under conditions set out...