Labeling of Feed additives in animal feed
Feed additives are widely used in animal feed to meet the nutritional needs of animals, as well as for flavor enhancement or product preservation. Which additives are allowed, and how should they be listed on the label?
The permitted additives in animal feed are regulated under Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 concerning additives for use in animal nutrition. Only additives listed in the “Feed Additive Register” are allowed in animal feed. Previously, the additives were maintained in a PDF document, but as of April 5, 2023, the PDF format has been replaced by an online version. This register contains all additives with a link to the authorization of the additive.
Over the past years, and still ongoing, efforts have been made to reauthorize additives. These additives have been reassessed, and once reauthorized, they are assigned a new identification number instead of an “E”-number. For example, E330 has been changed to 1a330. Additives that still carry an “E”-number will be reassessed in the future, and the labeling requirements may change accordingly.
Which Additives Must Be Listed?
Not all additives are required to be listed on the label of compound feed and feed materials. The requirements for mandatory labeling of additives are outlined in Regulation (EU) No 767/2009, specifically in Article 15 and Annex VI for food-producing animals, and Annex VII for non-food-producing animals. The following additives must be mandatorily listed for food-producing animals:
- Additives for which a maximum content has been set for at least one food-producing animal.
- Zootechnical additives.
- Coccidiostats and histomonostats.
- Additives whose presence is emphasized in words, images, or as a graphic representation.
For non-food-producing animals, the same rules apply, except that there must be a legal maximum for a non-food-producing animal. The other rules remain the same. For example, if there is only a legal maximum for dairy cattle, it is mandatory to mention this for all food-producing animals, but not for feed intended for dogs.
How Should This Be Listed?
The list of additives should be preceded by the term “additives.” This is followed by a list of the substances and the added quantity. Below is a table outlining the data that must be listed for each additive.
| Food-Producing Animals | Non-Food-Producing Animals |
|---|---|
| Name of functional group (Annex I) OR category according to Article 6 of Reg. 1831/2003 | Name of functional group (Annex I) OR category according to Article 6 of Reg. 1831/2003 |
| Specific name AND identification number as listed in the authorization of the additive | Specific name AND/OR identification number as listed in the authorization of the additive |
| Added amount* | Added amount* |
*For additives belonging to the functional group “vitamins, provitamins, and chemically well-defined substances” that are mandatory to list, the total quantity guaranteed during the entire shelf life may be stated under the heading “analytical constituents.”
Some additives require additional information to be included on the label. These additional statements are specified in the table under “other provisions.” An example of this is choline chloride, where the authorization states that for animal feeds containing choline chloride for poultry and pigs, the following text must appear on the label: “Simultaneous administration with drinking water containing choline chloride must be avoided.
Questions or Need Advice?
If you have further questions about the labeling of feed additives or the use of the Feed Additive Register, please contact etikettering@schoutenadvies.nl.
