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National Reference Laboratory for Additives for Use in Animal Nutrition

Marketing authorisation for feed is granted pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Commission in a Community procedure. Feed may not be placed on the market or fed to animals without this authorisation.

Feed additives are defined as substances, micro-organisms or preparations, which are not feed starting products or premixes, that have been intentionally added to feed or water in order to fulfil one or more of the functions stipulated in the Regulation. Feed additives may not harm the health of animals, humans or the environment and may not lead to any disadvantages for the consumer.

Feed additives are broken down into the functional groups: technological, sensory, nutritional-physiological and zootechnical additives. They include a number of different substances like:

• Antioxidants
• Preservatives
• Emulsifiers
• Dyes
• Flavourings
• Vitamins
• Trace elements
• Enzymes
• Probiotics

The National Reference Laboratory for Additives for Use in Animal Nutrition is attached to Contaminants Unit of Department 8: Safety in the Food Chain at the BfR.

Main areas of the NRL for Additives for Use in Animal Nutrition

The activities of the National Reference Laboratory for Additives for Use in Animal Nutrition include:

• Co-operation with the EU Reference Laboratory and the passing on of information from the EU Reference Laboratory to the competent official national laboratories and authorities. The EU Reference Laboratory for Feed Additives is located at the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements of the Joint Research Centre in Geel (Belgium).
• Co-operation with laboratories commissioned to undertake the analysis of additives within the framework of official control in Germany
• Development and validation of analytical methods
• Conduct of comparative tests between the official national laboratories followed by the introduction of appropriate follow-up measures
• Scientific and technical support for the implementation of the control plans.

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