From the 1 January 2006, the European Union (EU) will impose a
complete ban on the use of four types of antibiotics as growth promoters in
animal feeds, amid fears that they are causing drug resistance in some types of
pathogen microorganisms
The EU has already banned antibiotics used in human medicine
from being added to animal feed. The new regulation controlling the use of
additives in animal feeds completes this ban on antibiotic growth promoters by
prohibiting the use of four substances, including monensin sodium, salinomycin
sodium, avilamycin and flavophospholipol.
David Byrne, EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer
Protection, has welcomed the regulation, which will strengthen the control of
all types of additives in animal feed, but in particular it completes the EU´s
drive to phase out antibiotics as growth promoters.
The Regulation covers five broad categories of additives,
namely technological additives (e.g. preservatives), sensory additives (e.g.
flavours, colorants), nutritional additives (e.g. vitamins), zootechnical
additives (e.g. gut flora improvers, non-microbial growth promoters) and
coccidiostats (additives to prevent poultry disease).
Under the Regulation only additives that have been through an
authorisation procedure could be put on the market, used or processed.
Authorisations will be valid for 10 years and will be specific for animal
species with a maximum dosage allowance. The new rules will require drug
companies to demonstrate that the additive has positive effects for the animal
and does not pose any risk to humans, animals and the environment (safety). The
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will be responsible for conducting these
evaluations.
Maximum residue limits (MRLs) will be established for some
feed additives where it proves necessary. A post-monitoring system as well as
regular testing of foodstuffs, which are already common practice, should assure
that these are observed.
A ban is likely to be a big blow to the £500 million a year
antibiotics industry in the EU. About 15% of all sales of antibiotics in the EU
currently go into animal feeds, mainly for chickens and pigs.
For further information see MEMO/02/66 at http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/afs/afs_index_en.html