Feed (Specified Undesirable Substances) (Scotland) Regulations 2007

The amended or extended maximum permitted levels (MPLs) have been adopted following an opinion from the relevant scientific panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). EFSA has been reviewing the MPLs for undesirable substances in animal feed - many of which were set some time ago - in the light of both current experience and up-to-date scientific evidence.

An important safeguard in the protection of animal and human health is the setting of statutory limits for undesirable substances, as defined in regulation two of the Feeding Stuffs (Scotland) Regulations 2005. For the most part these are naturally occurring environmental contaminants that are present at low levels in feed and food products, and process contaminants which may be introduced into the feed either during or as a consequence of its treatment, manufacture and storage. The list of undesirable substances covered by the Regulations also includes a range of organochlorine compounds, chiefly pesticides such as camphechlor, endosulfan, aldrin and dieldrin.

Available monitoring data have shown that significant levels of aldrin and dieldrin are found in feed which contains a relatively high proportion of fish oil. A new lower MPL has therefore been introduced for fish oil products. There is an existing MPL for endosulfan in oilseeds and products derived from the processing of oilseeds. Monitoring data have also shown that it is appropriate to increase the MPL for endosulfan in crude vegetable oil derived from processing oilseeds. For a number of organochlorine compounds, the term 'fats' in the list of feedingstuffs potentially contaminated with these substances is to be revised to read 'fats and oils' to make clear that all fats and oils - including animal fat, vegetable oils and fish oil - are covered.

Full details of the changes introduced by Commission Directive 2006/77/EC are set out in Section 2 of the attached Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA). We are also taking this opportunity to correct a typographical error in and the omission of a small sub-group of permitted protein sources from Schedule 6 to the consolidated Feeding Stuffs (Scotland) Regulations 2005; these corrections are set out in regulations 2(2) and 2(4) of the draft Regulations.

There will be consultations on separate but parallel draft regulations for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This consultation has been prepared in accordance with the HM Government Code of Practice on Consultation, which states that a consultation must follow better regulation best practice, including carrying out an Impact Assessment (Regulatory Impact Assessment in Scotland). The assessment is included in the consultation documents.

We are interested in what you thought of this consultation and would therefore welcome your general feedback on both the consultation package and overall consultation process. If you would like to assist us to improve the quality of future consultations, please feel free to share your thoughts with us by using the consultation feedback questionnaire.

Consultation feedback questionnaire (Word)

Consultation feedback questionnaire (pdf)

In accordance with the FSA principle of openness our Information Centre at Aviation House will hold a copy of the completed consultation. The FSA will publish a summary of responses, which may include personal data, such as your full name. Disclosure of any other personal data would be made only upon request for the full consultation responses. If you do not want this information to be released, please complete and return the Publication of Personal Data Form. Return of this form does not mean that we will treat your response to the consultation as confidential, just your personal data.

Data protection form (Word)

Data protection form (pdf)

Within three months of a consultation ending we aim to publish a summary of responses received and provide a link to it from this page.

If, after three months, the summary is still not showing, please contact the person who was responsible for the original consultation. Alternatively, you can contact the FSA Consultation Co-ordinator by email: consultationcoordinator@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk