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Recommendation of the EFTA Surveillance Authority No 65/04/COL of 31 March 2004 concerning a coordinated programme for the official control of feedingstuffs for 2004


Published: 2004-03-31

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19.5.2005   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 126/59


RECOMMENDATION OF THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY

No 65/04/COL

of 31 March 2004

concerning a coordinated programme for the official control of feedingstuffs for 2004

THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and in particular Article 109 and Protocol 1 thereof,

Having regard to the Agreement between the EFTA States on the establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice, and in particular Article 5(2)(b) and Protocol 1 thereof,

Having regard to the Act referred to at point 31a of Chapter II of Annex I to the EEA Agreement (Council Directive 95/53/EC of 25 October 1995 fixing the principles governing the organisation of official inspections in the field of animal nutrition (1)), as amended, and as adapted to the EEA Agreement by Protocol 1 thereto, and in particular Article 22(3) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

It is necessary, with a view to the sound operation of the European Economic Area, to arrange for coordinated feed inspection programmes within the EEA designed to improve the harmonised implementation of the official controls by the EEA States.

(2)

Such programmes should place emphasis on complicance with the relevant legislation in force under the EEA Agreement, and the protection of public and animal health.

(3)

The results from simultaneous implementation of national programmes and coordinated programmes may provide information and experience on which to base future control activities and legislation.

(4)

Although the Act referred to at point 33 of Chapter II of Annex I to the EEA Agreement (Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 May 2002 on undesirable substances in animal feed (2)) establishes maximum contents of aflatoxin B1 in feedingstuffs, there is no legislation in force under the EEA Agreement for other mycotoxins, such as ochratoxin A, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol and fumonisins. Gathering information on the presence of those mycotoxins through random sampling could provide useful data for an assessment of the situation with a view to the development of the legislation. Furthermore, certain feed materials such as cereals and oil seeds are particularly exposed to mycotoxin contamination because of harvesting, storage and transport conditions. As mycotoxin concentration varies from year to year, it is appropriate to collect data from consecutive years for all mycotoxins mentioned.

(5)

Previous checks for the presence of antibiotics and coccidiostats in certain feedingstuffs where those substances are not authorised indicate that this type of infringement still occurs. The frequency of such findings and the sensitivity of this matter justify the continuation of checks.

(6)

The participation of Norway and Iceland in the programmes within the scope of Annex II of this Recommendation concerning substances not authorised as feed additives will have to be evaluated with respect to their exemptions from Chapter II of Annex I to the EEA Agreement.

(7)

It is important to ensure that the restrictions on the use of feed materials of animal origin in feedingstuffs, as laid down in the relevant EEA legislation, are effectively enforced.

(8)

The case of contamination of the feed and food chain with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) highlighted the value of the selection of supplies in the safety of feedingstuffs. Some ingredients in feedingstuffs are by-products of agri-food industries, or of other industries, or of mineral extraction. The source of feed materials of industrial origin and the processing methods applied to them may be of particular significance in the safety of the products. Therefore the competent authorities should consider this aspect when carrying out their checks.

(9)

The measures provided for in this Recommendation are in accordance with the opinion of the EFTA Plants and Animal Feedingstuffs Committee assisting the EFTA Surveillance Authority,

HEREBY RECOMMENDS TO THE EFTA STATES:

1.

During 2004, to carry out a coordinated inspection programme aimed to check:

(a)

the concentration of mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol and fumonisins) in feedingstuffs, indicating the methods of analysis; the method of sampling should comprise both random and targeted sampling; in the case of targeted sampling, the samples should be feed materials suspected of containing higher concentrations of mycotoxins, such as cereal grains, oil seeds, oil fruits, their products and by-products, and feed materials stored for a long time or transported by sea over a long distance; the results of the checks should be reported using the model set out in Annex I;

(b)

certain medicinal substances, whether or not authorised as feed additives for certain animal species and categories, in non-medicated pre-mixtures and compound feedingstuffs in which these medicinal substances are not authorised; the checks should target those medicinal substances in pre-mixtures and compound feedingstuffs if the competent authority considers that there is a greater probability of finding irregularities; the results should be reported using the model set out in Annex II;

(c)

the implementation of restrictions on the production and use of feed materials of animal origin, as set out in Annex III;

(d)

the procedures applied by manufacturers of compound feedingstuffs in order to select and assess their supplies of feed materials of industrial origin and to ensure the quality and safety of such ingredients, as set out in Annex IV.

2.

To include the results of the coordinated inspection programme provided for in paragraph 1 in a separate Chapter in the annual report on inspection activities to be transmitted to the EFTA Surveillance Authority by 1 April 2005 in accordance with Article 22(2) of Directive 95/53/EC and the latest version of the harmonised reporting model.

Done at Brussels, 31 March 2004.

For the EFTA Surveillance Authority

Bernd HAMMERMAN

College Member

Niels FENGER

Director


(1)  OJ L 265, 8.11.1995, p. 17. Directive as last amended by Directive 2001/46/EC of the European Parlament and of the Council (OJ L 234, 1.9.2001, p. 55).

(2)  OJ L 140, 30.5.2002, p. 10. Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2005/8/EC (OJ L 27, 29.1.2005, p. 44).


ANNEX I

Concentration of certain mycotoxins (aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, fumonisins) in feedingstuffs

Individual results of all tested samples; model for reports as referred to in paragraph 1(a)

Feedingstuffs

Sampling (random or targeted)

Type and concentration of mycotoxins (μg/kg relative to a feedingstuff with a moisture content of 12 %)

Type

Country of origin

Aflatoxin B1

Ochratoxin A

Zearalenone

Deoxynivalenol

Fumonisins (1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The competent authority should also indicate:

the action taken when maximum levels for aflatoxin B1 are exceeded,

the methods of analysis used,

the limits of detection.


(1)  The concentration of fumonisins comprises the total of fumonisins B1, B2 and B3.


ANNEX II

Presence of certain substances not authorised as feed additives

Certain antibiotics, coccidiostats and other substances may be legally present as additives in pre-mixtures and compound feedingstuffs for certain species and categories of animals, when authorised under the Act referred to at point 1 of Chapter II of Annex I to the EEA Agreement (Council Directive 70/524/EEC of 23 November 1970 concerning additives in feedingstuffs (1)).

The presence of unauthorised substances in feedingstuffs constitutes an infringement.

The substances to be controlled should be chosen from the following:

1.

Substances authorised as feed additives for certain animal species or categories only:

 

avilamycin

 

decoquinate

 

diclazuril

 

flavophospholipol

 

halofuginone hydrobromide

 

lasalocid A sodium

 

maduramicin ammonium alpha

 

monensin sodium

 

narasin

 

narasin — nicarbazin

 

robenidine hydrochloride

 

salinomycin sodium

 

semduramicin sodium

2.

Substances no longer authorised as feed additives:

 

amprolium

 

amprolium/ethopabate

 

arprinocid

 

avoparcin

 

carbadox

 

dimetridazole

 

dinitolmid

 

ipronidazol

 

meticlorpindol

 

meticlorpindol/methylbenzoquate

 

nicarbazin

 

nifursol

 

olaquindox

 

ronidazol

 

spiramycin

 

tetracyclines

 

tylosin phosphate

 

virginiamycin

 

zinc bacitracin

 

other antimicrobial substances

3.

Substances never authorised as feed additives:

other substances

Individual results of all non-compliant samples; model for reports as referred to in paragraph 1(b)

Type of feedingstuff

(animal species and category)

Substance detected

Level found

Reason for the infringement (2)

Action taken

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The competent authority should also indicate:

the total number of samples tested,

the names of the substances which have been investigated,

the methods of analysis used,

the limits of detection.


(1)  OJ L 270, 14.12.1970, p. 1.

(2)  Reason leading to the presence of the unauthorised substance in the feedingstuff, as concluded after an investigation carried out by the competent authority.


ANNEX III

Restrictions on the production and use of feed materials of animal origin

Without prejudice to Articles 3 to 13 and 15 of Directive 95/53/EC, the EFTA States should during 2004 undertake a coordinated inspection programme to determine whether restrictions on the production and use of feed materials of animal origin have been complied with.

In particular, in order to ensure that the ban on feeding processed animal protein to certain animals, as laid down in the Annex IV of the Act referred to at point 7, 1, 12 of Chapter I of Annex I to the EEA Agreement (Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001 laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (1)), are effectively applied, EFTA States should implement a specific control programme based on targeted controls. In accordance with Article 4 of Directive 95/53/EC, that control programme should be based on a risk-based strategy where all stages of production and all types of premises where feed is produced, handled and administered are included. EFTA States should pay special attention to the definition of criteria that can be related to a risk. The weighting given to each criterion should be proportional to the risk. The inspection frequency and the number of samples analysed in the premises should be in correlation to the sum of weightings allocated to those premises.

The following indicative premises and criteria should be considered when drawing up a control programme:

Premises

Criteria

Weighting

Feed mills

Double-stream feed mills producing ruminant compound feed and non-ruminant compound feed containing derogated processed animal proteins

Feed mills with previous history, or suspicion, of non-compliance

Feed mills with a large amount of imported feedingstuffs with high protein content such as fishmeal, soybean meal, corn gluten meal and protein concentrates

Feed mills with a high production of compound feed

Risk of cross-contamination resulting from internal operational procedures (dedication of silos, control of the effective separation of lines, control of ingredients, internal laboratory, sampling procedures, etc.)

 

Border Inspection Posts and other points of entry into the EEA

Large/small amount of imports of feedingstuffs

Feedingstuffs with high protein content

 

Farms

Home mixers using derogated processed animal proteins

Farms keeping ruminants and other species (risk of cross feeding)

Farms purchasing feedingstuffs in bulk

 

Dealers

Warehouses and intermediate storage of feedingstuffs with high protein content

High volume of bulk feedingstuffs traded

Dealers in compound feedingstuffs produced abroad

 

Mobile mixers

Mixers producing for both ruminants and non-ruminants

Mixers with previous history, or suspicion, of non-compliance

Mixers incorporating feedingstuffs with high protein content

Mixers with high production of feedingstuffs

Large number of farms served including farms which keep ruminants

 

Means of transportation

Vehicles used for the transportation of processed animal proteins and feedingstuffs

Vehicles with previous history, or suspicion, of non-compliance

 

As an alternative to these indicative premises and criteria, EFTA States may forward their own risk assessment to the EFTA Surveillance Authority before 30 April 2004.

Sampling should be targeted on batches or events where cross-contamination with prohibited processed proteins is most likely (first batch after the transport of feedingstuffs containing animal protein prohibited in this batch, technical problems or changes in production lines, changes in storage bunkers or silos for bulk material).

The minimum number of inspections per year in an EFTA State should be 10 per 100 000 tonnes of compound feed produced. The minimum number of official samples per year in an EFTA State should be 20 per 100 000 tonnes of compound feed produced. Pending the approval of alternative methods, microscopic identification and estimation as described in Commission Directive 98/88/EC of 13 November 1998 establishing guidelines for the microscopic identification and estimation of constituents of animal origin for the official control of feedingstuffs (2) should be used for analysing samples. Any presence of prohibited constituents of animal origin in feedingstuffs should be considered as a breach of the feed ban.

The results of the inspection programmes should be communicated to the EFTA Surveillance Authority using the following formats:

Summary of checks concerning feeding restrictions for feed of animal origin (feeding of prohibited processed animal proteins)

A.   Documented inspections

Stage

Number of inspections comprising checks on the presence of processed animal proteins

Number of breaches based on documentary checks etc. rather than laboratory testing

Import of feed materials

 

 

Storage of feed materials

 

 

Feed mills

 

 

Home mixers/mobile mixers

 

 

Intermediaries of feedingstuffs

 

 

Means of transport

 

 

Farms keeping non-ruminants

 

 

Farms keeping ruminants

 

 

Others: …

 

 


B.   Sampling and testing of feed materials and compound feedingstuffs for processed animal proteins

Premises

Number of official samples tested for processed animal proteins

Number of non-compliant samples

Presence of processed animal protein from terrestrial animals

Presence of processed animal protein from fish

Feed materials

Compound feedingstuffs

Feed materials

Compound feedingstuffs

Feed materials

Compound feedingstuffs

for ruminants

for non-ruminants

for ruminants

for non-ruminants

for ruminants

for non-ruminants

At import

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feed mills

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intermediaries/storage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Means of transport

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home mixers/mobile mixers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On farm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Others: …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


C.   Summary of prohibited processed animal proteins found in samples of feedingstuffs intended for ruminants

 

Month of sampling

Type, degree and origin of contamination

Sanctions (or other measures) applied

1

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

3

 

 

 

4

 

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition, EFTA States should analyse fats and vegetable oils intended for feedingstuffs for the presence of traces of bones and include the results of such analyses in the report referred to in paragraph 2 of this Recommendation.


(1)  OJ L 147, 31.5.2001, p. 1.

(2)  OJ L 318, 27.11.1998, p. 45.


ANNEX IV

Procedures for selection and assessment of supplies of feed materials of industrial origin

The competent authorities should identify and shortly describe the procedures followed by manufacturers of compound feedingstuffs in order to select and assess supplies of feed materials of industrial origin. Some procedures may be related to the prior establishment of characteristics or requirements for the products to be supplied, or for the suppliers. Other procedures may be related to own-checks for the verification of compliance with certain parameters, carried out by manufacturers of compound feedingstuffs at the reception of supplies.

For each identified procedure (procedure for selection and assessment of supplies), the competent authorities should indicate the advantages and disadvantages of the application of the procedure in terms of feed safety. Finally they should assess whether, taking into account the potential risks, each procedure is acceptable, insufficient or unacceptable for ensuring the safety of feedingstuffs, stating the reasons leading to that conclusion.

Evaluation of procedures

Procedure (short description, including criteria for acceptance/rejection of feed materials)

Advantages

Disadvantages

Assessment of acceptability of procedures