Animal Feed

1 Summary

1.1      The Business Committee is invited to note and discuss FSA performance information for animal feed, covering data up until the end of June 2025 (end of Q1 2025).

2 Introduction

2.1      Post EU exit, the UK established its own regulatory framework for feed products, transitioning from EU law to a retained and amended version of EU legislation. Under the Windsor Framework arrangements, Northern Ireland continues to follow EU regulations. The process of authorising regulated products and maintaining a public register in Great Britain (GB) was previously managed by the EU and some unresolved issues were therefore inherited by the FSA and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) post EU exit. 

2.2      This paper provides assurance to the Board on the operational delivery of animal feed policy post EU exit. Animal feed responsibilities broadly fall within three key areas:

a) Market authorisations, covering:

• the high volume of feed additive applications (relative to other regimes) received since the GB service went live in January 2021

• progress on implementing changes introduced by 1 April 2025 reforms, which have reduced overall numbers of feed additive applications

• the GB Feed Additives Register – progress on existing, but previously unidentified issues that were highlighted when authorisations were transferred to the new feed additives register, including those raised by feed industry stakeholders

b) Responding to incidents – delivering risk management advice in response to animal feed incidents to ensure safety in the feed chain.

c) Delivery of official controls – engagement with Local Authorities regarding feed enforcement.

3 Evidence and Discussion

Service Delivery: Market Authorisation of Animal Feed

3.1      A total of 275 animal feed applications have been received into the FSA’s market authorisation service since it went live in January 2021. These include: 

• 140 applications for a new animal feed authorisation

• 77 applications for the renewal of an existing feed additive

• 58 applications for the modification of an existing animal feed

3.2      This represents almost one third (29.1%) of the total number of applications received into the market authorisation service. It highlights the high volume of animal feed applications received over the past four years relative to other regulated product regimes.

3.3      There was an initial surge of animal feed applications following the launch of the service in 2021. The number of applications received then decreased and plateaued throughout 2022 to 2024 ^{(footnote 1)}. Annex A provides graphs illustrating these figures.

3.4      The market authorisation service has authorised 93 applications across all regimes up to June 2025. Of these, 49 were animal feed applications, making up a total of 53.8%.

Reform: Market Authorisation of Animal Feed

3.5      Regulatory reforms to the service came into force on 1 April 2025, through a GB wide statutory instrument (SI). These reforms removed requirements for the periodic (10 year) renewal of authorisations that had existed for feed additives. It also removed the requirement for authorisations to be prescribed by SIs. This allows authorisations to come into effect following ministerial decision (based on FSA/FSS advice) and then be published in the official register.

3.6      Prior to reform, a decision was made to pause work on all feed additive renewal applications on the basis that the requirement for renewals would be removed.

3.7      The removal of the requirement for renewal applications will significantly reduce the number of applications progressing through the market authorisation process. The authorisations remain valid and no longer have an expiry date, meaning the authorised products can stay on the market, subject to any suspension, modification or revocation in the future.

3.8      The FSA and FSS have checked the information provided in all renewal applications in the service prior to 1 April 2025 for any modification and/or extension of use requests or information that may have implications for the safety of products. Any that contained modification and/or extension of use requests remain in the service. Should evidence of a potential safety concern be identified (whether this comes from information contained in renewal applications that were in the service prior to April 2025 or elsewhere), the FSA and FSS have legal powers to review the authorisation, request new information from businesses, and advise ministers on whether to modify, suspend or revoke its authorisation.

3.9      As noted in the Business Committee performance report, applicants were contacted on the outcome of the renewal application checks in late July 2025. Pending final confirmation, we understand there are 53 animal feed applications to be removed from the service. Final reporting will be provided in the Q2 Business Committee performance reporting.

GB Feed Additives Register

3.10   In preparation for the reform SI coming into force in April 2025, previous regulated products registers, including the feed additives register, were replaced with new registers. Following the removal of SIs, ministerial decisions are now the legal basis for feed additive authorisations, and the new registers have become the primary source of information for all stakeholders on the regulated products authorised for market in GB. 

3.11   The GB register of feed additives contains 1631 entries, authorised under the following categories:

• Nutritional additives (e.g. vitamins, amino acids) 

• Sensory additives (e.g. flavourings, colourants) 

• Zootechnical additives (e.g. digestibility enhancers, gut flora stabilisers) 

• Technological additives (e.g. preservatives, binders) 

• Coccidiostats and histomonostats 

3.12   The FSA and FSS are required to maintain a register that accurately represents the authorisation status for each product as determined by ministers.

Issues raised with the new register

3.13   When authorisations were transferred to the new register of feed additives in preparation for the reform SI coming into force, checks highlighted a small number (around 25 – or approximately 1.5% of all feed additive authorisations) of existing, but previously unidentified issues. The issues were identified (by the FSA/FSS and feed industry) as administrative, and not safety related.

3.14   It was not possible to delay the publication of the new register, and to ensure the register remained accurate as possible, it was necessary to omit a small number of entries where a problem was identified (until the authorisation status could be clarified). The FSA did not communicate these changes as timely and transparently as we should have done. This resulted in confusion and disruption to industry. We have since apologised for this and are working with industry representatives to address any outstanding issues, through regular communications with industry stakeholder groups and updates to the register.

Annex B provides a summary of the key impacted areas, and actions taken to date. Issues raised fell into the following categories:

• Revocation of additives that still have a valid authorisation 

• Revocation of additives for which a positive FSA opinion exists (for renewal) 

• Removal of specific additives

• Removal of additives that were potentially submitted late 

• Revocation of duplicate entries

• Renewal application invalidated

Progress and next steps

3.15   As of 27 August 2025, 5 of the 6 overarching issues identified by feed industry have been resolved, and the GB feed additives register has been updated to reflect this. A review of the invalidated renewal application is underway.

3.16   A Task and Finish Group has been established at an operational level across the FSA and FSS. This group is working to ensure collaborative decisions are made on the remaining issues. 

3.17   Recognising the communication failures around the original change, we have committed to informing industry stakeholders of our decisions before any changes are made to the GB register for feed additives. This ensures they can provide timely feedback on register entries and input into resolving any outstanding issues. Additionally, regular communication and senior meetings with industry stakeholders on the register and other relevant issues are being held. This commitment has been warmly welcomed.

Response to feed incidents and delivery of official controls

3.18   The FSA plays a critical role in delivering the risk management response to animal feed incidents, to protect consumer and animal health. This role includes determining market distribution of products, undertaking assessments on safety, and generating any other relevant evidence to inform proportionate risk management interventions, such as product withdrawals.

3.19   50 feed incidents have been reported over the past 12 months (April 2024 – March 2025). 11 of these incidents related specifically to feed additives. Most of these are classified as ‘routine’ and can include the detection of salmonella in raw feed materials, and of chemical contaminants, such as lead or pesticides. One incident within the past year (relating to the blue-green algae bloom in Lough Neagh), included animal feed but had wider impacts. This was classified as ‘non-routine’ and required a more substantial risk management response.

3.20   Responsibilities for feed enforcement differ across the UK. In England and Wales, feed law is enforced by feed authorities (local authorities ‘LAs’), with feed official controls funded directly by the FSA in England and through a ring-fenced budget in Wales. This follows on from a decision taken in 2012 to transfer money allocated to delivery of feed controls from the local authority Revenue Support Grant to the FSA. This action was taken because of concerns raised (during audits by the European Union) that controls were not being appropriately prioritised locally.

3.21   In England and Wales, this funding is provided through the Feed Delivery Programme (FDP). In England, support for coordination of the FDP is delivered through a Memorandum of Understanding between the FSA and National Trading Standards. In Wales, the FSA coordinates the FDP with the six Feed Regions and the Feed Governance Group. Since the FDP was introduced in 2014, it has been a driving factor in improving engagement and coordination between the FSA and LAs.

3.22   An annual programme of controls, aligned to the requirements of the Feed Law Code of Practice (and including the formal arrangement for earned recognition), is agreed in advance of each financial year. Funding is subsequently released each quarter proportional to delivery against the programme. The FDP has delivered significant improvements in both the level of feed official controls, (such as inspections and sampling), and the targeting of these controls to those businesses posing the greatest risk.

3.23   The annual LA performance report, to be considered at the FSA Board meeting in September 2025, includes summary information on the delivery of feed official controls (table at Annex C). In 2024-25, English and Welsh LAs were able to fully deliver planned levels of interventions. In addition to this, LAs also increased both the number of samples taken, and the number of consignments of imported feed checked, compared to the programme from the previous year. 

3.24   Feed enforcement in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). In Scotland, FSS are directly responsible for feed enforcement.

4 Conclusions

4.1      The Business Committee is asked to note this performance and service delivery update, with particular attention to operational developments and issues identified during the implementation of the new feed additives register which are being resolved. Reforms effective from 1 April 2025 have eased overall current and future caseload pressures.

4.2      The Animal Feed Policy team will continue to stay abreast of emerging issues, including SPS impacts, by monitoring market trends and maintaining active surveillance through established networks with industry stakeholders and independent experts, including the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF).

Annex A: Breakdown of animal feed application type by year & overall animal feed applications by year

Annex B: Summary of issues raised by industry on GB register authorisation entries and actions to date

The issues raised by industry stakeholders fell into the following categories: 

• Revocation of additives that still have a valid authorisation 

• Revocation of additives for which a positive FSA opinion exists (for renewal) 

• Removal of specific additives

• Removal of additives that were potentially submitted late 

• Duplicate entries

• Renewal application invalidated

Revocation of additives that still have a valid authorisation - RESOLVED 

The issue raised was specifically in relation to Selenomethionine (produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3399) and authorised under Assimilated Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2117). After reviewing the authorisation, it was amended on the GB register to ‘authorised’ on 23 May 2025. 

Revocation of additives for which a positive FSA opinion exists (for renewal) - RESOLVED 

The issue raised was specifically in relation to Dicopper chloride trihydroxide. The omission of this product from the GB register was identified by the FSA on 1 April 2025. It was updated on the register on 29 April 2025. 

Removal of specific additives - RESOLVED 

Niacin, folic acid and vitamin E entries were missing from the GB register. Vitamin E was added onto the register as ‘authorised’ on 29 April 2025. Niacin and folic acid were added on to the register as ‘authorised’ on 6 June 2025. 

Renewal applications that were potentially submitted late - RESOLVED 

Prior to the reform SI coming into force on 1 April 2025, legislation required applicants to submit a renewal application at least 1 year prior to the expiry date on authorisations. Feed additive applications that were valid and submitted on time/sufficiently before expiry could remain on the market while the renewal was progressed via an auto-extension provision. The reform SI contained provisions that allowed the removal of expiry dates (for authorisations yet to expire), along with those that were subject to the auto-extension provision. So, in effect, if applicants had submitted applications sufficiently in advance of the renewal expiry date, they were eligible to be given non-time limited authorisation.

In the process of carrying out checks on feed additive authorisations for the new registers, 23 additives were removed from the register while we identified whether they were auto-extended or had expired prior to the reform SI coming into force. Following review, all 23 additives were identified as auto-extended and were added back on to the register by 22 July 2025. 

Duplicate entries - RESOLVED

Duplicate entries were identified when the FSA compared pre- and post- reform registers. 

Most of these applied to additives for which there was a renewal/ reauthorisation before EU exit. For example, cassia gum had transitional provisions applied only until 2020, so it would no longer be authorised for use.  

These duplicates have been retained for traceability. These are shown as revoked because this is the only applicable status on the register.  

Renewal application invalidated 

Sodium hydroxide is approved for use as an acidity regulator in a wide range of foods to support the safety and efficacy of products. Its function in feed is essentially the same. A renewal application for its use as a feed additive was invalidated. It has therefore been omitted from the new register whilst under review by FSA/FSS. 

Annex C: Planned and Completed Feed Official Controls in England and Wales

England & Wales Planned & Completed Official Controls	Number of Establishments   2024-25	2022-23			2023-24			2024-25
		Planned	Completed	%	Planned	Completed	%	Planned	Completed	%
Feed Manufacturer	640	183	199	108.7%	193	204	105.7%	203	199	98.0%
Pet Food Manufacturer	951	351	326	92.9%	340	340	100.0%	360	367	101.9%
Mobile Mixer	32	10	13	130.0%	15	18	120.0%	16	18	112.5%
Importers	137	32	29	90.6%	33	35	106.1%	36	33	91.7%
Co Product Producer	1,445	423	423	100.0%	411	380	92.5%	417	384	92.1%
Stores	882	77	79	102.6%	95	92	96.8%	85	84	98.8%
Transporter	1,694	159	149	93.7%	155	158	101.9%	125	112	89.6%
Supplier of feed materials / Surplus Food	6,276	836	819	98.0%	777	766	98.6%	842	859	102.0%
On Farm Mixer	10,482	725	686	94.6%	735	786	106.9%	633	632	99.8%
Distributor	2,190	287	279	97.2%	281	276	98.2%	341	340	99.7%
Livestock Farms	109,900	2,262	2,370	104.8%	2,163	2,505	115.8%	2,204	2,265	102.8%
Arable Farms	12,311	259	225	86.9%	301	272	90.4%	250	245	98.0%
TOTAL	146,940	5,604	5,597	99.9%	5,499	5,832	106.1%	5,512	5,538	100.5%