The Marketing and the Use of Feed Additives in the European Union with particular Regard to zootechnical Feed Additives

As summarized in the foregoing, the use and the marketing of feed additives are regulated by common concepts, principles and procedures set out in Regulation (EC) No 1831/ 2003. The main objective is to assure a high level of protection of human health, animal health and welfare, environment and users' and consumers' interests in relation to feed additives, whilst ensuring the effective functioning of the internal market. Therefore, feed additives must undergo a safety assessment through a Community authorization procedure before being placed on the EU market. This procedure involves the European Food Safety Authority, the Commission, the Member States and the interested feed operator (applicant). It lies within the applicant's responsibility to adequately and sufficiently demonstrate (by appropriate trials and scientific data) that the Conditions for authorisation laid down in Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 are fulfilled. The European Food Safety Authority's task is to evaluate, from a scientific point of view, the data submitted by the applicant, while competence for definitely authorising a feed additives is conferred on to the Commission, who may take into account also other than scientific factors. This system shall guarantee that balanced decisions may be made; taking into account the consumers' interests as well as the operators' economic rights.