Harmonisation of analysis methods for animal feed

Goal

Reliable and internationally accepted analysis methods are key factors in determining the safety and quality of agricultural products. European legislation and regulations frequently refer to harmonised standards. For this reason, it is vital that harmonised analysis methods are available for purposes such as criminal investigations.

Actively participating in the European harmonisation of analysis methods for substances that can negatively impact the safety of animal feed provides an added incentive for dealing with priority topics for the Netherlands and adapting new harmonised analysis methods to the Dutch situation.

Another goal of this project is to provide the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation with advice concerning, for example, the translation of EFSA opinions into European standards for contaminants in animal feed, the usefulness and necessity of creating standards, specific standards for different types of livestock, the feasibility of drafting new standards from recently obtained analysis results and analytical possibilities for monitoring new standards.

Method

Internationally, RIKILT takes a leading role in animal feed testing by chairing the CEN technical committee (CEN/TC 327) for animal feed, which focuses on substances that can pose a risk for animal feed and food safety. On a national level, RIKILT advises the Dutch government on European standards and the interpretation of analysis results. In addition, the chair of the NEN committee for animal feed is a RIKILT staff member.

Project results

CEN committee for animal feed: The European Commission (EC) approved the content of the third mandate at the end of 2012 and is expected to approve the proposed funding in late 2013 or early 2014. Once approval has been obtained, the project implementation can proceed. The third mandate will harmonise approximately 25 analysis methods.

The provision of advice to the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs on drafting standards for, among other things, contaminants in animal feed in relation to determining its position in the Permanent Committee for the Food Chain and Animal Health.

In the context of food safety, international trade and the harmonisation of legislation in Europe, harmonised methods for the mutual validation of analysis results and fair market practices take an important role.

Reliable and internationally accepted analysis methods are key factors in determining the safety and quality of agricultural products. European legislation and regulations frequently refer to harmonised standards. For this reason, it is vital that harmonised analysis methods are available for purposes such as criminal investigations.

Actively participating in the European harmonisation of analysis methods for substances that can negatively impact the safety of animal feed provides an added incentive for dealing with priority topics for the Netherlands and adapting new harmonised analysis methods to the Dutch situation.

Another goal of this project is to provide the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation with advice concerning, for example, the translation of EFSA opinions into European standards for contaminants in animal feed, the usefulness and necessity of creating standards, specific standards for different types of livestock, the feasibility of drafting new standards from recently obtained analysis results and analytical possibilities for monitoring new standards.

Method

Internationally, RIKILT takes a leading role in animal feed testing by chairing the CEN technical committee (CEN/TC 327) for animal feed, which focuses on substances that can pose a risk for animal feed and food safety. On a national level, RIKILT advises the Dutch government on European standards and the interpretation of analysis results. In addition, the chair of the NEN committee for animal feed is a RIKILT staff member.

Project results

CEN committee for animal feed: The European Commission (EC) approved the content of the third mandate at the end of 2012 and is expected to approve the proposed funding in late 2013 or early 2014. Once approval has been obtained, the project implementation can proceed. The third mandate will harmonise approximately 25 analysis methods.

The provision of advice to the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs on drafting standards for, among other things, contaminants in animal feed in relation to determining its position in the Permanent Committee for the Food Chain and Animal Health.