CHAPTER 7: Animal Feed Additives

In this chapter, the European Union regulatory framework and procedures for ensuring the chemical safety of feed additives are described. Explanation is given of the role of European Union committees, including the FEEDAP Panel and its working groups, in evaluation of the safety of feed additives and writing guidance documents in relation to this. The evaluation of the safety of target animals, people handling the feed additives, consumers of foods derived from target animals given feed additives and of the environment are discussed, giving examples of where difficulties have been encountered. The concepts of reference points and health-based guidance values are introduced. The chapter notes some problems with the current methods of regulating feed additives and looks ahead to possible changes to the way in which the toxicity of feed additives will be evaluated in future.