(1)

The presence of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, T-2 and HT-2 toxins in feed are a possible concern for animal health and to a lesser extent for public health following the transfer of these mycotoxins from feed to food of animal origin. It is therefore important to recommend monitoring the presence of these mycotoxins in feed and to recommend measures when guidance values are exceeded to ensure a high level of animal health protection.

(2)

Commission Recommendation 2006/576/EC (1) recommended that Member States increase, with the active involvement of feed business operators, the monitoring for the presence of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, fumonisin B1 + B2 and T-2 and HT-2 toxin in cereals and cereal products intended for animal feeding and compound feedingstuffs. In addition, guidance values were recommended for judging the acceptability of compound feed and cereal and cereal products for animal feeding.

(3)

The guidance values for cereal and cereal products were recommended taking into account the then available occurrence data of those mycotoxins. The guidance values for compound feed were recommended on the basis of the outcome of the scientific opinions of the European Food Safety Authority (the Authority) on deoxynivalenol on 2 June 2004 (2), zearalenone on 28 July 2004 (3), ochratoxin A on 22 September 2004 (4) and fumonisins B1 + B2 on 22 June 2005 (5).

(4)

In 2011, the Authority adopted a scientific opinion on the risks for animal and public health related to the presence of T-2 and HT-2 toxin in food and feed (6). On the basis of that opinion, Commission Recommendation 2013/165/EU (7) recommended that Member States perform, with the active involvement of feed business operators, monitoring for the presence of T-2 and HT-2 toxin in cereals and cereal products. Indicative levels were recommended for cereals, cereal products for feed and compound feed with the exception of feed for cats. Given that cats are amongst the most sensitive animal species, a guidance value was recommended in Commission Recommendation 2006/576/EC as amended by Commission Recommendation 2013/637/EU (8).

(5)

On deoxynivalenol, in 2013 the Authority published a scientific report on the occurrence and exposure (9) of that substance and in 2017 it adopted an opinion on the risks to human and animal health related to the presence of deoxynivalenol and its acetylated and modified forms in food and feed (10). The Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) identified reduced feed intake, and reduced body weight gain as critical chronic adverse effects for farm and companion animals and identified reference points for adverse animal health effects (no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) or lowest observed adverse effect levels (LOAELs)) for these effects. In 2022, the Authority adopted an opinion on the assessment of information as regards the toxicity of deoxynivalenol for horses and poultry (11). The reference points for adverse animal health effects were lowered for horses, broiler chickens and turkeys.

(6)

On zearalenone, in 2017 the Authority adopted an opinion on the risks for animal health related to the presence of zearalenone and its modified forms in feed (12). Reference points for adverse animal health effects were identified for farm and companion animals.

(7)

On ochratoxin A, in 2023 the Authority adopted an opinion on the risks for animal health related to the presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in feed (13). Reference points for adverse animal health effects were identified for pigs, chickens for fattening, hens, rabbits and herbivore fish.

(8)

On fumonisins B1 + B2, in 2018 the Authority adopted an opinion on the risks for animal health related to the presence of fumonisins, their modified forms and hidden forms in feed (14). The Authority’s CONTAM Panel identified NOAELs for cattle, pig, poultry (chicken, ducks and turkeys), horses, and LOAELs for fish (extrapolated from carp) and rabbits. No reference points could be identified for sheep, goats, dogs, cats and mink. In 2022, the Authority adopted an opinion on the assessment of information as regards the toxicity of fumonisins for pigs, poultry and horses (15). The reference points for adverse animal health effects were lowered for poultry and horses.

(9)

On T-2 and HT-2 toxin, in 2017 the Authority adopted a scientific report on the human and animal dietary exposure to T-2 and HT-2 toxin (16) and in 2022 it adopted an opinion on the assessment of information as regards the toxicity of T-2 and HT-2 toxin for ruminants (17). The reference points for adverse animal health effects were lowered for sheep and cows.

(10)

Taking into account the more recent occurrence data and the outcome of the more recent scientific opinions, the existing guidance values should be updated to ensure a high level of animal health protection.

(11)

The guidance values for feed materials should be established taking into account the occurrence data thereby acknowledging the regional and high year-to-year variation.

(12)

The guidance values for complete feed should be based on the reference points for adverse animal health risks. Exceedance of these guidance values in complete feed or complementary feed, taking into account the proportion prescribed for their use in daily ration, might result in adverse animal health effects. It is therefore highly recommended that these guidance values are not exceeded.

(13)

Given the substantial changes to the guidance values, it is appropriate to establish a new Recommendation. Recommendations 2006/576/EC and 2013/165/EU should therefore be replaced,