Food safety: additive in feedingstuffs and in drinking water for animal nutrition

The European Parliament adopted the report drafted by Hedwig KEPPELHOFF-WIECHERT (EPP-ED, Germany) and made some amendments to the common position. (Please see the document dated 20/05/03.) The amendments are as follows: - a new recital recalls the principle of Community food law enshrined in Regulation 178/2002/EC, whereby food and feed imported for placing on the market must comply with Community legislation. It is therefore necessary to subject imports of third countries of additives for use in animal nutrition to requirements equivalent to those which apply to additives produced in the EC; - for additives authorised without a time limit, a list of additives which require re-evaluation and their priority order for re-evaluation should be drawn up, after the European Food Safety Authority has been consulted. An application for authorisation shall be submitted no later than 7 years after the adoption of that list; - with a view to a decision on the phasing out of the use of coccidiostats and histomonostats as feed additives by 31/12/12, the Commission must submit a report on the use of these substances as feed additives and available alternatives by 01/01/08. This should be accompanied, where appropriate by legislative proposals; - to protect corporate know-how, mixtures and premixtures containing flavourings and appetite stimulants should be exempt from the labelling requirement for each additive. This should not apply, however, to flavourings and appetite stimulants subject to a quantitative limitation when used in feed and drinking water; - in specific cases where urgent authorisation is needed to ensure the protection of animal welfare, the Commission may, provisionally authorise the use of an additive for a maximum period of 5 years.�