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Last week, colleagues from the Animal Feed Unit in the FSA’s Primary Production Division hosted a successful conference on silage agents organised by the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Panel on additives and products or substances used in animal feed (FEEDAP).  The main purpose of the event was to enable the feed additive and animal feed sectors to gain a better understanding of the assessment and authorisation processes for this category of feed additives.  Speakers included members of the FEEDAP panel and secretariat, and representatives of the silage agent manufacturers.

The conference provided an opportunity for manufacturers who need to provide dossiers intended for authorisation of their products under updated European Community legislation by the end of 2010.  They were able to speak face-to-face with some of the experts who will be assessing their dossiers.  The stakeholders who attended now have a better understanding of what data they need to include in their applications, and on how they should present it.

The new legislation brings silage agents within the scope of a European Community regulation that controls the use and marketing of feed additives.  These new arrangements will help ensure the safety of consumers, animals that consume the silage, workers and farmers that use the additive – the environment.

The Agency was pleased that our EFSA colleagues (who are based in Italy) should choose to hold this event in the UK. The Agency is keen to develop further our collaborations with EFSA, as this authority provides a highly significant input to the risk assessment of feed- and food-related issues in the European Union and beyond.