FEFAC President Mr Ruud Tijssens expressed his consternation regarding the decision of German competent authorities this week to allow the export of feed maize contaminated with Aflatoxin exceeding EU legal maximum levels to the US for feed use.
Although positive about the fact that by taking a final decision which removes the risk of “having this contaminated material around somewhere in Europe”, he stated that “this decision is setting a very unfortunate precedent as it provides the wrong signal to suppliers of feed materials to the EU feed sector”.
He reminded that it was the primary responsibility of suppliers of feed materials as first placer on the market of these products to ensure the compliance of their products with EU feed safety requirements. In case of products exceeding maximum levels, the competent authorities should authorize alternative risk management options, such as detoxification or “non-feed” applications for such products (e.g. use for renewable energies) under strict supervision. Reverting to authorization of export of such material to third countries can only be seen as a “measure of last resort” as competent authorities can no longer control final destination of such products and potential re-importation to the EU of animal products produced with such products which may be “legally” manufactured in 3rd countries due to lower feed safety standards.
Mr Ruud Tijssens noted that FEFAC’s action plan on Aflatoxin was geared to raise the bar for suppliers to meet EU feed safety standards by applying the “top-of the pyramid” approach in testing and monitoring their products based on a common generic sectoral risk assessment before putting them on the market place. He considered that the newly adopted CODEX guidelines on feed safety risk assessment could provide a useful tool to allow both feed business operators and competent authorities developing a more harmonized approach on feed safety risk assessments leading ultimately to common global feed safety standards. Ultimately our customers and consumers in the EU and outside should receive the same guarantees on feed safety.
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