WRITTEN QUESTION E-3154/02 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Arsenic in animal nutrition.
Date: 2002-11-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: algae, animal nutrition, food additive, foodstuffs legislation, manufactured feedingstuffs, semi-metal, toxic substance

8.5.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 110 E/175

Employment and Social Affairs DG website in the coming weeks. A second phase, to commence in 2003,
will support the most deserving projects developed during phase one, following a restricted call for
proposals.

(2003/C 110 E/194)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3154/02

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 November 2002)

Subject: Arsenic in animal nutrition

Does the Commission recognise that pure seaweed has been used as an animal feed and feed additive for
generations?

While awaiting the evaluation of the Scientific Committee for Animal Nutrition (SCAN) (due in December
2002), the Arramara Teo Factory at Kilkieran, Connemara, Ireland, is being seriously affected by the new
legislation due to come into effect in August 2003, and there will be many full-time job losses and a
serious loss of income for 700 seaweed cutters

Can the Commission distinguish between naturally occurring organic arsenic and inorganic arsenic, and
can we make a case for measuring arsenic as an additive over the basal rate and make a special case for
seaweed meal?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(12 December 2002)

Council Directive 96/25/EC of 29 April 1996 on the circulation and use of feed materials (1) lays down a
non-exclusive list of the main feed materials which may be used and marketed for the preparation of
compound feedingstuffs. This list contains the feed material seaweed meal obtained by drying and crushing
seaweed, in particular brown seaweed.

Council Directive 1999/29/EC of 22 April 1999 on the undesirable substances and products in animal
nutrition (2) establishes a maximum level for arsenic of 2 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) in feed materials
including seaweed meal and in compound feedingstuffs and a level of 4 mg/kg in complementary
feedingstuffs. The maximum level applies to total arsenic as there is no method of analysis available for use
in official control which distinguishes routinely the more toxic inorganic arsenic from the less toxic
organic arsenic.

Seaweed not complying with the maximum level for arsenic can, in accordance with the provisions of
Council Directive 1999/29/EC, still be used under strict conditions for the production of compound
feedingstuffs. The produced compound feedingstuff has in any case to comply with the maximum level.

However, Council Directive 2002/32/EC of
the Council of 7 May 2002 on
undesirable substances in animal feed (3) replacing Council Directive 1999/29/EC no longer allows this
possibility for dilution from 1 August 2003 onwards.

the Parliament and of

With respect to Council Directive 2002/32/EC, the Commission declared in Council to undertake, insofar
as possible before 1 August 2003, a review of the maximum levels on the basis of updated scientific risk
assessments and taking into account the prohibition of any dilution of contaminated non-complying
product intended for animal feed.

Information concerning the presence of arsenic in seaweed meal has been provided by the Irish authorities
to the Commission and this information will be taken into account when considering the revision of the
current maximum levels for arsenic in feed materials including seaweed meal and in compound feed.

(1) OJ L 125, 23.5.1996.
(2) OJ L 115, 4.5.1999.
(3) OJ L 140, 30.5.2002.