PART 6F1Undesirable substances in products intended for animal feed
Interpretation of this Part14.
In this Part —
F2(a)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(b)
“undesirable substance” means any substance or product, not being a pathogenic agent, which is present in or on a feed and —
(i)
constitutes a potential danger to human or animal health or to the environment, or
(ii)
could adversely affect livestock production.
Control of animal feeds containing undesirable substances15.
(1)
A person who —
(a)
places on the market any feed that is specified in column 2 of F3a table in Schedule 4; or
(b)
uses any such feed,
commits an offence if it contains any undesirable substance listed in column 1 of that F4table in excess of the relevant maximum content specified in column 3.
(2)
A person who places on the market or uses any complementary feed commits an offence if —
(a)
having regard to the quantity of it recommended for use in a daily ration, it contains any undesirable substance listed in column 1 of F5a table in Schedule 4 in excess of the maximum content specified for it in column 3 in relation to complete feeds; and
(b)
there is no provision relating to any complementary feed in the corresponding entry in column 2 of that F6table.
(3)
(4)
A person who places on the market or uses any feed which is not sound and genuine and of merchantable quality commits an offence.
(5)
For the purposes of paragraph (4) a feed listed in column 2 of F9a table in Schedule 4 shall be deemed not to be sound, genuine and of merchantable quality if it contains any undesirable substance specified in column 1 of that F10table in excess of the maximum content specified in relation to it in column 3.
(6)
A person who has, for the purpose of a trade or business, possession or control of any of the feeds specified in paragraph (7) must, if required by an inspector, procure and produce to the inspector an analysis in order to demonstrate that the content of inorganic arsenic in the feed specified in that paragraph is less than 2 parts per million.
(7)
The feeds are —
(a)
palm kernel expeller;
(b)
feeds obtained from the processing of fish and other marine animals;
(c)
seaweed meal and feed materials derived from seaweed; F11...
(d)
complete feeds for fish or for fur-producing animals;
F12(e)
peat;
(f)
leonardite.
(8)
A person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with a requirement made under paragraph (6) commits an offence.
F13(9)
In order to reduce or eliminate sources of undesirable substances in products intended for animal feed, feed authorities must, in cooperation with feed business operators, carry out investigations to identify the sources of undesirable substances, in cases where the maximum levels are exceeded and in cases where increased levels of such substances are detected, taking into account background levels; for the purpose of ensuring a uniform approach in cases of increased levels, action thresholds to trigger investigations are set out in Schedule 5.
(10)
Feed authorities must transmit to the Agency all relevant information and findings of the source and the measures taken to reduce the level of, or eliminate, undesirable substances.
(11)
Where the Secretary of State has grounds to believe that a level fixed in Schedule 4 or 5, or an undesirable substance not listed in Schedule 4 or 5, presents a danger to animal or human health, or to the environment, the Secretary of State—
(a)
may, pending amendment of Schedule 4 or 5—
(i)
change an existing level;
(ii)
introduce a level; or
(iii)
prohibit the presence,
of the undesirable substance concerned in products intended for animal feed by issuing a direction; and
(b)
must decide whether to make an amendment to Schedule 4 or 5 that corresponds with the direction issued under sub-paragraph (a).
(12)
A direction issued under paragraph (11)(a)—
(a)
must be in writing;
(b)
may specify a period of time during which it has effect;
(c)
may be revoked by the Secretary of State at any time, by way of a written notice;
(d)
irrespective of any period of time specified under sub-paragraph (b), ceases to have effect upon the entry into force of any corresponding amendment of Schedule 4 or 5 made pursuant to paragraph (11)(b).
(13)
A direction issued under paragraph (11)(a) and a revocation notice under paragraph (12)(c) must be published by the Secretary of State without delay.
F14Regulations15A.
(1)
The Secretary of State may, by regulations, make provision to—
(a)
add, amend or remove an entry in Schedule 4 or 5;
(b)
amend the acceptability criteria for detoxification processes in Regulation (EU) 2015/786.
(2)
Any power to make regulations under this Part is exercisable by statutory instrument.
(3)
A statutory instrument containing regulations is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.
(4)
Regulations made under this regulation may—
(a)
contain consequential, incidental, supplementary, transitional or saving provision (including provision amending, repealing or revoking retained direct EU legislation);
(b)
make different provision for different purposes.