EU criticism: Germany violates rules for animal feed
From an EU-perspective Germany is not holding to rules applicable for animal feed. The European Commission has called on Germany to implement the EU Directive on maximum feed quantities of banned substances.
With the directive the safety of feed is ensured, but also human food is guaranteed. In January, Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner in Brussels had even pushed for stricter controls to prevent feed contamination.
The EU Directive regulates the maximum permitted levels of heavy metals and contaminants in animal feeds. Considered as undesirable are substances such as mercury or nitrites, which can be hazardous to the health of humans and animals.
All Member States should have implemented the Directive by 1 November 2010, which Germany so far failed to do, the Commission informed.
Having learned from the dioxin scandal Aigner at an EU Agriculture Ministers meeting in late January had plead for an EU-wide continuous monitoring network.
The CSU-politician urged then to a more stringent approval of feed manufacturers, which is subject to stringent quality standards.
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