Maximum levels of undesirable substances in animal feed and the need to regulate new substances
Climate change, greater circularity, and new feed ingredients are reshaping the risk profile of undesirable substances in animal feed. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority works to ensure feed safety through monitoring, updated regulations, and revised maximum levels.
Circulating organic material carries the risk that undesirable substances may built up in the food chain. As circular practices expand, it is therefore essential to prevent environmental pollutants from becoming a threat to health and the environment, both in the short and long term.
Annex I of the Directive on undesirable substances in animal feed lists the maximum levels for undesirable substances. These limits are established primarily to ensure feed safety and are further tightened according to the ALARA (‘as low as reasonably achievable’) principle based on occurrence data.
When new feed materials are introduced, it is important to collect Norwegian data on their content of undesirable substances and share this knowledge with the EU working group on undesirable substances, in order to help shape regulatory processes where relevant.
Climate change may affect the risk of undesirable substances in feed
Rising precipitation, higher temperatures, and more frequent extreme weather events can influence the occurrence of undesirable substances in feed. Shifts in climate conditions may, for example
- promote mold growth, leading to higher levels of mycotoxins
- affect the formation and spread of natural plant toxins and nitrogen compounds in feed crops
- change the transport and accumulation of dioxins, PCBs, and organochlorine compounds in the environment
These developments may make it more difficult to comply with regulatory maximum levels and will increase the need for monitoring and data collection.
Our work in this area
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority monitors and assesses the presence of various undesirable substances in different feed ingredients. However, feed operators hold primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of the feed they place on the market, which includes regular monitoring and accurate record-keeping of any undesirable substances present.
Sensitivity to undesirable substances, such as mycotoxins, varies between animal species. Sustainable use of feed resources must therefore take these differences into account while ensuring feed safety and promoting good animal health.
New recommended EEA maximum levels for mycotoxins in feed will come into effect in 2025. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has actively participated in the EU committee responsible for discussing and developing these maximum levels. The recommended maximum levels for compound feed have been lowered to protect animal health, in line with recent EFSA assessments. Based on updated occurrence data, reduced recommended maximum levels will also be applied to individual feed ingredients.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s contribution to establishing appropriate maximum levels for undesirable substances in feed and regulating new substances
Our objectives are to
- provide scientific expertise and share Norwegian monitoring data on novel feed ingredients as it becomes available, supporting the development of regulations within safe limits
- maintain close dialogue with industry and the research community to identify potential risks from undesirable substances in novel feed ingredients at an early stage