The European Commission’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food & Feed (SCOPAFF) has agreed to delay changes to the EU Catalogue of Feed Materials until adequate scientific data is available.
The delay does not resolve the issue of maximum levels for CBD in animal feed, which is expected to be taken up by SCOPAFF after toxicology reports due to be completed by the end of the year.
Four trade associations recently called for revisions to the list of hemp feed products in the EU Catalogue, and asked for the delay.
Rules would hurt operators
The industry groups say rules under consideration would burden operators with additional red tape and complicate the marketing of such products.
Stakeholders are particularly concerned over a proposal that would delete hemp oil that results from the pressing of plant biomass — flowers, leaves and seeds – and classifying it as an additive based on its CBD content. The groups say any changes should await studies underway that will establish that trace levels of CBD in the oil produce no effects in animals.
While the EU feed catalog is non-binding on member states, many use it at the national level as an established reference for local rules.
