banner

About us
||
Official controls
|
Method database
|
Publications
|
What's new?
|
Contacts

The CRL and authorisation process

The scientific assessment of applicants’ dossiers requires an evaluation of the analytical methods proposed by the applicant to determine the active substance(s)/agent(s) in the feed additive (as finished product), in premixtures, in feed, and in water (if applicable). In some cases, when maximum limits are established, the method(s) to determine the residues and/or metabolites in food shall also be evaluated. Evaluation of the analytical method is the task of the CRL.

The method is evaluated in a stepwise manner in which the CRL first assesses the documents provided by the applicants. The documentation submitted by the applicant must be in compliance with chapter 2.6 of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 429/2008. On the basis of the documentation submitted by the applicant, the CRL is generally able to give a favourable opinion to EFSA without performing experiments. However, in some cases the CRL may conclude that it is necessary to test the method in its laboratory or organise an inter-laboratory comparison study to validate it in order to complete the assessment. The CRL also maintains a bank of reference samples of all authorised additives.

Given the high number of different feed additives ranging from trace elements to probiotics, expertise in many fields of analytical chemistry is needed. Therefore the CRL is supported by a consortium of European national reference laboratories.

Other tasks

In addition to the authorisation process, the CRL together with the network laboratories:
  • reviews analytical methods
  • keeps a European database of methods of analysis for feed additives
  • organises inter-laboratory comparisons






Last Update 16/12/2009